Councilor Diane LeBlanc Hints At Run For Mayor

WALTHAM, MA — City Councilor Diane LeBlanc is planning to run for mayor, according to a flier advertising a campaign fundraiser some residents received this week. If true, she is the second city councilor to indicate a possible intention to run against Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, who has served as mayor for the past 16 years.

According to a handwritten message on one of the fliers, LeBlanc plans to make an official announcement at a campaign event on April 25. She told Patch she had no comment at this time.

When the mayor announced she would run again, there was nothing yet posted to the city website about the November election where the office of mayor, the entire Waltham City Council and several Waltham School Committee member slots will be on the ballot. But the documents one needs to get and fill out from city hall to indicate an intention to run won't be available til May 1.

Four years ago, City Councilor and State Rep. Tom Stanley ran against the mayor and lost. This year, following McCarthy's announcement he criticized the reason she gave for changing her mind and said he was considering running again.

Councilors at large Carlos Vidal, Randy LeBlanc, and Kathleen McMenimen all told Patch they planned to seek reelection as councilors but had no intention of challenging the mayor.

Once someone gets the paperwork from city hall, they have until June 28 to get 50 signatures from registered Waltham voters supporting the person's intention to run for office. Candidates will be announced July 12, and then they'll have a week to change their minds. If there are enough candidates running, there will be a preliminary election on Sept. 17.

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