Special City Election for Ward 2 Councilor Delayed

After considering a motion to declare the seat of former Councilman George T. Ross as vacant, the Municipal Council decided to delay the special election process by one week. 

The special election to fill Ross' seat was originally slated for April 19, during school vacation week. If that wasn't enough of a conflict, the city's elections office notified the council of a scheduling conflict with , the location where registered voters in Ward 2 go to vote. The location was not available for the scheduled preliminary and election. 

If the date was not changed and a new voting place was established, every voter in Ward 2 would have to be notified by certified mail, according to council President Frank Cook. Besides the logistics of reaching out to each voter, the city would incur a $2,000 to $4,000 bill to send the certified letters. While Ross, who served seven terms as councilman, has offered $2,000 to help defray the cost of the special election, the council thought it wise to reschedule it a week later.

"This all came down around noontime today," Cook told his fellow councilors. "This new motion that Councilwoman Felos is offering solves the problem and pushes it out only one more week."

After discussing the challenges with the city solicitor and referring to the city's charter, a motion was made to change the dates to March 15 and April 26.

Once the council declares the vacancy, which is set for Dec. 28, nomination papers will be made available for all candidates beginning Jan. 5. A total of 50 voter signatures is needed before a candidate can be nominated to the seat.

While published reports say Mark Cooper, a Planning Board member, and Richard Correia , a member of the Attleboro Redevelopment Authority, have announced their intentions to run, Cooper said he will make no announcement until a vacant seat is declared by the City Council. Correia has put his interest to run for the seat on hold, at least for now.

The Special Election for Councilor Ward 2 Schedule is as follows: 

• Nomination papers available for all candidates: Jan. 5, 2011
• Last day to obtain nomination papers: Jan. 21, 2011
• Last day to submit nomination papers: Jan. 25, 2011
• Last day for certifying papers: Jan 28, 2011
• Last day for withdrawals or objections: Feb. 10, 2011
• Last day to register to vote: Feb. 23, 2011
• Last day to post warrant: March 8, 2011
• Last day for absentee voting: March 14, 2011
• Special Municipal Preliminary (if needed): March 15, 2011
• Last day for withdrawals, objections and written acceptances by write-in candidates who won in Preliminary: March 21, 2011
• Ballot Position: March 22, 2011
• Last day to register to vote: April 6, 2011
• Last day to post warrant: April 19, 2011
• Last day for absentee voting: April 25, 2011
• Special Municipal Election: April 26, 2011