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Date: 11/2/2023
WESTFIELD — Residents will go to the polls on Nov. 7 to decide contested races for mayor, at-large city councilor, Ward 1 councilor, Ward 2 councilor, School Committee and Athenaeum trustee.
In-person early voting was on one day, Oct. 28. The only remaining opportunity to vote in person is on Election Day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the various polling places around the city. Registered voters can also request mail-in ballots from the city clerk’s office on the second floor of City Hall, 59 Court St., Westfield.
At the top of the ballot, Mayor Michael McCabe is running for reelection to what would be his second two-year term. Challenging him is current City Councilor Kristen Mello.
There are 10 candidates for the seven available at-large seats on the City Council. In ballot order, they are incumbents James Adams, Dan Allie, Brent Bean II, Cindy Harris, Kristen Mello and Richard Sullivan Jr.; and challengers Jessica Ann Britton, Jason Hosey, Nicholas Morganelli Jr. and Robert Parent. The elected councilors will serve two-year terms starting in January.
Morganelli currently serves on the City Council as the Ward 1 representative. Mello is also a candidate for mayor, and Britton is also running in the Ward 2 councilor race. Current City Councilor Mary O’Connell, a mid-term appointment after Councilor David Flaherty resigned earlier this year, chose not to run for her seat.
Voters will pick three out of the six candidates for School Committee. In ballot order, the candidates are incumbent Bo Sullivan, incumbent Michael Tirrell, Jeffrey Gosselin, Jeffrey Gunther, Pamela Kotarski and Gabriella Michaliszyn.
The School Committee is guaranteed at least one new member next term, as current member Diane Mayhew opted not to run for reelection. The three winners of next week’s vote will serve four-year terms starting in January. The School Committee has six elected members, with the mayor serving ex officio as chair. The three committee members whose terms did not expire this year will be up for reelection in 2025.
The only other citywide office on the ballot is a six-year term on the Westfield Athenaeum Board of Trustees. Incumbent Trustee Jayne Mulligan is running for reelection against challenger Eric McDowell.
There are also seats available in all six wards for two-year terms on the City Council and two-year terms on the Municipal Light Board, although in most cases, the incumbent is running for reelection unopposed. There are only two contested single-ward races.
Ward 1: With Morganelli running for an at-large seat, two newcomers are contesting the City Council seat representing Ward 1, John Bowen and Karen Fanion. The ward’s incumbent Light Board member, Kevin Kelleher Sr., is running unopposed. Precinct A votes at Southampton Road Elementary School, 330 Southampton Rd. Precinct B votes at Westfield High School, 177 Montgomery Rd.
Ward 2: The only new polling place in Westfield this year is in Ward 2, where all residents will vote at the Westfield Senior Center, 45 Noble St. Incumbent City Councilor Ralph Figy faces a challenger, Jessica Ann Britton. Britton is also a candidate in the at-large councilor race. Ward 2’s current Light Board member, Ray Rivera, is running unopposed.
Ward 3: Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane and Light Board member Dawn Renaudette are unopposed for re-election in Ward 3. Precinct A votes at Franklin Avenue Elementary School, 22 Franklin Ave. Precinct B votes at Westfield Technical Academy, Lower Campus, 33 Smith Ave.
Ward 4: Councilor Michael Burns is running for reelection unopposed. William Parks is the only candidate for Light Board, as incumbent Ward 4 representative Francis Liptak did not run for reelection. Precinct A votes at Second Congregational Church, 487 Western Ave. Precinct B votes at Highland Elementary School, 34 Western Ave.
Ward 5: Councilor John Beltrandi III and Light Board member Joseph Mitchell are unopposed for reelection in Ward 5. Both precincts vote at Munger Hill Elementary School, 33 Mallard Lane.
Ward 6: Councilor William Onyski and Light Board member Robert Sacco are unopposed for reelection in Ward 6. Both precincts vote at Paper Mill Elementary School, 148 Paper Mill Rd.
Voters who are not sure about their precinct can enter their address at www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/ to find their polling place. Voters can enter their information at www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/ to confirm that they are registered to vote. For more information about the election, call the city clerk’s office at 413-572-6235.
The candidates were profiled in The Pennysaver editions of Oct. 12, 19 and 26, and in The Westfield News throughout the second half of October and first week of November. The articles can also be found at www.thereminder.com/localnews/westfield and masslive.com/topics/westfield-election.