Primary Likely For School Committee and City Council, Fontaine to Run Unopposed

It looks likely that the City of Woonsocket will be holding a municipal primary on Oct. 11 for seats on the City Council and School Committee, though the final list of candidates will not be released by the Board of Canvassers until tomorrow morning. Incumbent Mayor Leo Fontaine will be running unopposed in the November election.

Today was the final day to return the nomination papers for bids for spots in the two city offices to the Board of Canvassers with 100 valid signatures. Although 33 people initially registered candidacy for city offices, the list has been whittled down to a total of 27 candidates.

Former Mayor Susan Menard registered to run against Fontaine on the final day that applications were being accepted, but never picked up her nomination papers. radio personality and former aide to Menard, John Dionne announced last week that Menard would not be running, but the former mayor and has not returned calls to the press regarding her decision.  

According to the Woonsocket City Code, a primary is held when there are more than twice as many candidates as there are places to be filled at the election. Of the 13 potential candidates that registered to run for five spots on the School Committee, 12 returned nomination papers, though officials at the Board of Canvassers indicated that Mildred Campbell may not have obtained enough signatures. Richard Picard, meanwhile, never picked up the papers.

If the signatures on their nomination papers are all certified, the following list of candidates would take part in a run-off election: John V. Donlon, Jr.; Anthony J. Gabriele; ; George E. King; Anita Ann McGuire-Forcier; Gary E. Mumford; Eleanor M. Nadeau; ; Allen R. Rivers; ; and Thomas Wrona. 

On the council side, 18 names appeared on the list as having filed declaration of candidacy, but Normand Laliberte and Ermie Lee Ulmer never picked up their nomination papers. Lewis Pryeor had not returned his papers by today's 4 p.m. deadline.

The possible list for the seven member board includes the following 15 remaining candidates: Christopher A. Beauchamp; Albert G. Brien; Stella G. Brien; James Cournoyer; Marc A. Dubois; Daniel M. Gendron; Roger G. Jalette; ; c; Steven Lima; ; Roland Michaud; Michael Moniz; and John Ward.

Visit Woonsocket Patch after 8 a.m. tomorrow for a final list of candidates.