Tides Are Turning In Framingham City Council: Election Season

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The Framingham City Council will look quite different around this time next year. Half of the sitting councilors have announced they will not seek re-election ahead of the city's November elections. On the ballot will be all 11 City Council seats as well as the nine School Committee seats.

Shifting Leadership

Both Council Chairman Dennis Giombetti and Vice Chair Charles Sisitsky have announced they will not seek re-election, leaving an open shift in the council's leadership. In his announcement to not seek re-election, Giombetti highlighted the growing pains of "building a new legislative branch," and pointed out frustration with the council's relationship with the mayor. "I sincerely hope that moving forward lessons are learned and what I call the key success factors of good governing the 3Cs, collaboration, communication and compromise become the hallmark of our government," Giombetti said. Sisitsky echoed similar sentiments in his announcement, "I urge the new City Council to continue in that vein to work effectively with the mayor and her administration in the best interests of the city," he said.

Framingham councilors and school committee members representing each district serve two-year terms. Councilors at-large are up for re-election this year but in the future will serve four year terms.

Councilor at-Large Cheryl Tully Stoll was the first councilor to announce she will not seek re-election but fellow at-large councilor George King will be running to defend his seat.

Among the other councilors who will not seek re-election are District 2 Councilor Pam Richardson, District 6 Councilor Michael Rossi, District 8 Councilor Judith Grove and District 9 Councilor Edgardo Torres.

Defending Their Seats

The four remaining councilors running for re-election are District 3 councilor Adam Steiner, at-large councilor George King, District 7 councilor Margareth Basilio Shepard and District 4 councilor Michael Cannon.

Steiner, an educator and chair of the Education Subcommittee, said although he felt like he came into city government with less experience than his colleagues, this term has served as a learning experience that he's ready to use. "I think now we're really able to dig into issues in the city, before we were learning the basics," Steiner said.

Shepard said she has always been excited to be part of city government and is ready to hit the campaign trail again. "I think it's important that everyone has a seat at the table," she said, "We are not just representing our districts but the city as well."

New Faces

Several newcomers have announced runs for City Council. Janet Leombruno, a Framingham Housing Authority commissioner who served on the Charter Commission, is running for one of the at-large seats. Cesar Stewart-Morales also announced a run for the District 2 City Council seat. Stewart-Morales is a Commissioner on the Framingham Human Relations Commission.

Nominations papers were made open to the public on May 1 and at least eight other residents have pulled papers for City Council seats. Of the residents who pulled papers were Cheryl Gordon for District 5, William Lynch for District 7, John Stefanini for District 8, Joseph Norton for District 1, Samuel Mercurio for an at-large seat, Mario Alvarez for District 8, James Douchette III for District 9 and Phil Ottaviani for District 6.

From School Committee to City Council

An early twist in the city's election season: two School Committee members are making runs for City Council. Noval Alexander and Ricky Finlay both pulled papers and made formal announcements that they plan to make the switch and hit the campaign trail again, for a different position.

Alexander plans to run for the District 5 City Council seat. Apart from being on the School Committee, Alexander is also on the School Building Committee and was a vocal supporter of the Fuller Building project. He is also a retired veteran and educator. Alexander was recognized earlier this year by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus at their "Black Excellence on the Hill" event at the State House.

Finlay plans to run for the District 2 City Council seat. He serves on the city's Disability Commission and City Seal Committee. Finlay is also a member of the Board of Directors for Hoops and Homework. He currently works for the Town of Wellesley Facilities Department.

Election Season Calendar

Election day may be months away but deadlines and important dates are coming up throughout the spring and summer. Here ware some you should keep track of:

• May 1: Nomination papers become available
• July 30: Last day and hour to file nomination papers with the Registrars of Voters.
• August 13: Last day and hour for Registrars to file certified nomination papers with the
  City Clerk.
• August 15: Last day and hour of objections to and/or withdrawal of nomination papers
• August 28: 8:00 P.M. Voter registration deadline for the City Preliminary.
• September 9: Pre-Preliminary Campaign Finance Reports due: Candidates for City Office
  must file reports covering date last filed through September 7, 2019
• September 17: City Preliminary Election
• October 16: 8:00 P.M. Voter registration deadline for City Election
• November 5: City Election