Waltham Election Calendar: What To Know About Election Season

WALTHAM, MA — Today is the first day folks thinking about running for Waltham City Council or mayor or school committee can do so. The Municipal Election will be held on November 5.

Every two years the entire 15-member council is up for reelection. This year, five candidates are vying for three school committee seats on the ballot as well. And the election season usually doesn't heat up until the summer ahead of a preliminary election in September.

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.

If you haven't registered to vote, yet, the last day to register for the general vote is Oct. 16 and then Election Day is Nov. 5.

This year it looks like the mayor's race is shaping up to be a contested one: On March 1, Mayor Jeannette McCarthy announced she would run for a fifth four-year-term after previously saying she wouldn't. Last week, At Large Councilor Diane LeBlanc announced she, too, would run for mayor. City Councilor and State Rep. Tom Stanley told Patch he would run if McCarthy decides not to run, after all. As of the end of the day Wednesday, Monique Schersinger had also pulled papers for the office of mayor. It looks like Melissa Downes will jump into the race, too

Councilors at Large Carlos Vidal, Randy LeBlanc, and Kathleen McMenimen all told Patch they planned to seek reelection as councilors.

In Ward 1:

• Anthony LaFauci
• David Gately,
• Lizzie Gelles

Ward 2:

• Caren Dunn
• Heather May
• William Hanley

Ward 3:

• George Darcy III
• Paul Tracey

Ward 4: (no challenger)

• John McLaughlin

Ward 5: (no challenger):

• Joey Lacava

Ward 6:

• Sean Durkee
• Sharline Nabulime (Incumbent)

Ward 7:

• Gregory DeMeo
• Kristine Mackin (incumbent)

Ward 8: (no challenger)

• Cathyann Harris

Ward 9:

• Jonathan Paz
• Donald Desrochers
• Robert Logan

Councilors at large:

• Kathleen McMenimen
• Randy LeBlanc
• Paul Brasco
• Steve Lydon
• Patrick O'Brien
• Tom Stanley
• Carlos Vidal

School Committee:

• Edmund Tarallo
• Margy Donnelly
• Marisa Diamond
• Jane Gately
• John Graceffa

RELATED:

• Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy Announces She Will Run
• Possible Challenge To McCarthy's Run For Waltham Mayor
• Councilor Diane LeBlanc Hints At Run For Mayor
• Waltham Councilor Diane LeBlanc Announces She Will Run

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).