Niedergang to Hold Campaign Kickoff at Armory

Mark Niedergang, who's running for alderman in Ward 5, is holding a campaign kickoff event on March 3 at The Center for Arts at the Armory, according to an announcement from the candidate's campaign.

Niedergang, who serves as the Ward 5 representative on the Somerville School Committee, has served on the committee since 2006, the announcement says.

The city of Somerville has not yet set the official election calendar for this year's municipal elections, but it's likely there will be a primary in mid-September before November's general election.

Niedergang could face current Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan in a primary, and other candidates might also jump into the race this spring.

State Rep. Carl Sciortino, who represents parts of Medford and Somerville, will speak at Niedergang's kickoff party, the announcement says. (Sciortino, himself, has thrown his hat in the ring to replace U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, should Markey win a special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by now Secretary of State John Kerry.)

The campaign kickoff is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to the announcement. There will be food from Redbones, Taco Loco and Gauchao, and Alex the Jester will perform.

In a written statement about his campaign, Niedergang said, "Our city is changing. Let’s shape that change to build the community that we want. I look forward to working together to protect our neighborhoods and manage development wisely, preserve Somerville’s character and diversity, enrich our environment, keep more families in Somerville, and make city government fair, honest and open."

Elsewhere in Somerville, Katjana Ballantye earlier this month announced she was running again for alderman in Ward 7, perhaps setting up a rematch with current Ward 7 Alderman Robert Trane, who narrowly defeated Ballantyne by 40 votes in 2011.