Published in the September 8, 2017 edition

MELROSE — The field of candidates hoping to become one of four aldermen-at-large elected in November grew by one recently, with Vinton Street’s Mark Askenazy joining the fray.

Askenazy pulled papers for nomination on Friday, September 1. He will compete against incuments Donald Conn, Monica Medeiros and Mike Zwirko, as well as Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Manisha Gadia Bewtra.

A fourth incumbent, Marybeth McAteer-Margolis, has announced that she will not seek reelection.

There is now one week left to obtain nomination papers to run in this November’s city election.

While none of the School Committee incumbents had taken out nomination papers by our deadline this week, five other residents have, with the latest being Jennifer Razi-Thomas of 106 Walton Park, who pulled papers on Friday, August 18.

The School Committeewomen up for reelection this year are Chris Casatelli, Jessica Dugan and Jaime McAllister-Grande.

In a letter in this week’s paper, Casatelli says she will not seek reelection.

Each ward alderman’s position has at least one candidate.

Here is a look at the Nov. 7 municipal election so far:

ALDERMEN-AT-LARGE

Manisha Gadia Bewtra, 330 Grove St. (signatures certified July 7)

Monica C. Medeiros, incumbent, 3 Bay State Rd.

Michael P. Zwirko, incumbent, 100 Derby Rd. (signatures certified May 26)

Kate Lipper-Garabedian, 21 Mystic Ave. (signatures certified May 22)

Donald L. Conn Jr., incumbent, 30 Sunset Rd.

Mark Askenazy, 100 Vinton St.

ALDERMAN WARD 1

John Tramontozzi, incumbent, 794 Franklin St.

ALDERMAN WARD 2

Jennifer Lemmerman, incumbent, 21 Bay State Rd. (signatures certified August 2)

ALDERMAN WARD 3

Sarah Lang, 229 Lynn Fells Parkway

Francis X. Wright Jr., incumbent, 191 Florence St.

Julie DeLillo, 12 Circuit St.

ALDERMAN WARD 4

Robert A. Boisselle, incumbent, 585 Main St. #101 (signatures certified June 6)

ALDERMAN WARD 5

Gail M. Infurna, incumbent, 198 Boston Rock Rd. (signatures certified May 18)

ALDERMAN WARD 6

Peter D. Mortimer, incumbent, 47 Mt. Hood Terr.

ALDERMAN WARD 7

Scott M. Forbes, incumbent, 41 Mystic Ave.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Peter I. Navarra, 35 Crescent Ave. #2 (signatures certified May 18)

Christian J. Hashem, 47 W. Wyoming Ave. #8 (signatures certified June 6)

John C. Obremski, 55 Hawley Rd.

Jennifer M. McAndrew, 12 Sears Ave. (signatures certified August 2)

Jennifer Razi-Thomas, 106 Walton Park

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Nomination papers may be obtained only by a candidate or a person presenting the signed authorization for a candidate. The last day to obtain nomination papers for all candidates will be Friday, September 15.

The last day to submit nomination papers will be no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19th for all candidates.

Prior to obtaining nomination papers, each candidate must file with the Election Office, a statement containing his/her name and address and the office for which he/she intends to run.

Before any voter may be permitted to sign a nomination paper, said paper must be completely filled out with the candidate’s name and address (number and street) as they appear on the 2017 voting list and the office to which he/she seeks nomination. For more information, please contact the Election Office at 781-979-4125.

At this election, the following officials are to be chosen for a term of four years:

• Three members of the School Committee, to be chosen by and from the qualified voters of the entire city.

The following officials are to be chosen for a term of two years:

• Four alderman-at-large, to be chosen by and from the qualified voters of the entire city.

• One alderman, to be chosen by and from the qualified voters of each of the seven (7) wards.

The minimum number of signatures to be certified on nomination papers to place candidates on ballot is as follows:

• Alderman-at-large, 120

• School Committee, 120

• Ward alderman, 20

CRITERIA FOR SEEKING PUBLIC OFFICE:

You must be: 18 years of age; an American citizen; a registered voter; a resident of Melrose