Framingham Preliminary Election Guide: From Town To City Government

FRAMINGHAM, MA—On Tuesday, Sept. 26, Framingham will hold its annual election, this year shifting its government structure from town to city. From board of selectmen to city council. From town administrator to mayor. And the heat is on high on the campaign trail.

Here's what you need to know about the upcoming election:

The city preliminary election will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 26. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The voter registration deadline for the City Election was Sept. 6.

The precincts and polling locations have not changed. Voters still vote in their precincts; however the city has nine districts with two precincts in each district as follows:

District Precincts

• 1 and 2
• 3 and 5
• 4 and 7
• 6 and 9
• 8 and 12
• 10 and 11
• 13 and 14
• 15 and 18
• 16 and 17

You may locate your district by address here.

On July 19, there was a drawing to determine the order in which names of candidates appear on the ballot for each office.

There are seven candidates for mayor. The mayoral candidates as they appear on the ballot are: Joshua Horrigan, John Stefanini, Dhruba Sen, Mark Tilden, Yvonne Spicer, Benjaman Neves-Grigg and Priscila Sousa. The two with the highest vote totals will appear on the Nov. 7 City Election ballot.

There are five candidates for the two at large city council seats. The candidates as they appear on the ballot are: Cheryl Tully Stoll, Pablo Maia, George King, Jr., Samuel Mercurio, Jr. and Christine Long. The four with the most votes will appear on the Nov. 7 city election ballot.

Six of the nine districts have candidates for district council. The two with the highest vote totals in each district appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.

The district council candidates as they appear on the ballot are:

District 1 (1&2): Heather Bachman, Gerald Bloomfield, Joseph Norton and Charlie Sisitsky.

District 3 (4&7): Joel Winett, Richard Weader,II, Katherine Murphy and Adam Steiner.

District 4 (6&9): Michael Cannon, James Pillsbury and Amanda Shepard.

District 5 (8&12): Cheryl Gordon, Robert Case and Dennis Giombetti.

District 6 (10&11): Scott Ellinwood, Michael Rossi, Brian Dorfman and Philip Ottaviani, Jr.

District 7 (13&14): Sylvia Ruiz, William Lynch and Margareth Shepard.

There are no preliminary races for district council in District 2 (3&5), District 8 (15&18) and District 9 (16&17). These candidates appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Some of the district council candidates have their signs on property that is not in their district. Only the councilors living in your district appear on your ballot. Sample ballots are on the town website to view before you vote on election day.

There are no preliminary races for school committee. School committee candidates appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Once the finalists are determined after the Sept. 26 Preliminary Election, their names will be posted on the town website under "town clerk."

The Framingham LWV is holding a Candidate Showcase on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 1–4 p.m. in Nevins Hall. It begins with brief statements from the district council candidates. Next, the at-large council candidates answer questions posed by the LWV moderator. The showcase closes with mayoral candidates answering questions posed by the LWV moderator. This candidate showcase is broadcast on the town’s cable station up until the Sept. 26 preliminary election.

If you have questions regarding the city preliminary Election, contact the clerk’s office at 508-532-5521.

Information courtesy Framingham town clerk

Patch File Photo