The deadline for candidates to pull papers to appear on the ballot for the city’s elections this fall is looming as the picture of the ballot becomes clearer, with less than two weeks to go before the field is set.
Mayor Ted Bettencourt tops the ballot, seeking a seventh term but facing a pair of challengers, the first time Bettencourt has faced a challenge in any of his reelection bids. Both Rochelle Agneta and Robb Stevens pulled papers to seek the city’s top job, though only Bettencourt has returned nomination papers. The deadline to pull papers is July 21, and candidates must return papers — with signatures — by July 25.
Bettencourt told The Weekly News earlier this year that while he feels he has accomplished a lot in his 12 years as mayor, the city still has room for improvement.
“I’ve always had a very deep attachment to the city,” he said. “Peabody is very much a part of me. And I’m really excited and feel like we’ve made some real improvements in the city. And I’m looking forward to continuing that work, there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Agneta has posted about her campaign repeatedly on Facebook, pitching herself as an agent of change.
“My heart belongs to the city and I intend to surround myself with knowledgeable people who will only have the best intentions for our city,” she wrote. “I will work with businesses in Peabody to spur economic growth and bolster city revenue. I will do my best to serve this community and make the right decisions that move Peabody forward while preserving the quality of life for its residents.”
Elsewhere on the ballot, all five of the city’s councilors at large have pulled papers to seek reelection, with only Bukia Chalvire serving as a challenger for Councilors-at-Large Jon Turco, Anne Manning-Martin, Ryan Melville, Tom Rossignoll, and Tom Gould. Both Turco and Manning-Martin have returned papers, confirming their appearance on the ballot. Chalvire sought city-wide elected office before in 2021, but came up short.
“I want to give back to my community and ensure that the quality of life that we all enjoy is not only maintained, but improved while keeping Peabody healthy, safe, and affordable,” wrote Chalvire, a Haitian immigrant, on Facebook when announcing her run. “Together with clear vision, hard work, and determination, we can accomplish many things for Peabody.”
The most hotly-contested race on the council is for the Ward 6 seat set to be vacated by Mark O’Neill, who announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection. Three candidates are vying for O’Neill’s seat. Two of them, William Cardello and Ryan Cox, have already returned nomination papers. The final candidate in that race is Michael Higgins.
Ward 2 Councilor Peter McGinn is facing a challenge from Mary Beth Mallia — though neither had returned papers as of Monday afternoon.
The remainder of the races on the council are uncontested, with all five other ward councilors seeking reelection unopposed. Two of the five councilors — Ward 1 Councilor Craig Welton, who serves as the president of the council, and Ward 5 Councilor Dave Gamache — have returned nomination papers.
On the School Committee, where voters will select three candidates to serve four-year terms, only incumbents — Joe Amico, Brandi Carpenter, and John Olimpio — have pulled papers thus far.
Further down the ballot, three candidates — including a pair of incumbents — are vying for two spots on the Municipal Lighting Commission. Thomas Pappas is mounting a challenge to incumbents Thomas D’Amato and William Aylward. None of the three candidates have returned nomination papers.
Voters will also elect a candidate to serve out the remainder of a two-year unexpired term on the commission. Tracy Valletti, who was appointed to the commission to fill the vacancy earlier this year, is the lone candidate in that race. Valletti has returned nomination papers.
The race for Library Board of Trustees is uncontested for the time being, with four candidates running for four seats. Those candidates include Emily Cooper, Stacy Dolin, and incumbents Katrina Vassallo and Frances Bisazza Gallugi, who chairs the Zoning Board of Appeals.
