Candidates Seek Local Offices

Story Updated 2:48PM Friday, August 2, 2013

– Allison Goldsberry

Several candidates, both new and familiar, have formally announced their intentions to run for local office in Medford.

As of the nomination paper filing deadline, thirteen candidates are competing for seven City Council seats and every current School Committee member is running for re-election unopposed. Mayor Michael McGlynn is running for his fourteenth consecutive term and is once again challenged by Anthony D’Antonio.

Every single School Committee member is running for re-election- Ann Marie Cugno, George Scarpelli, John Falco, Erin DiBenedetto, Paulette Van der Kloot, and Robert E. Skerry, Jr. DiBenedetto was first elected two years ago and Skerry was re-elected in 2011 after a brief hiatus.

Seven new City Council candidates are challenging six incumbents. There is one open seat on the seven-member Council due to the impending retirement of long-time councilor Robert Maiocco. Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Paul Camuso, Michael Marks, Robert Penta, Rick Caraviello, and Frederick Dello Russo, Jr. are all seeking re-election. Seven challengers are hoping for a spot on the Council- Adam Knight, Robert FitzPatrick, Neil Osborne, Jeanne Martin, Mark Crowley, Robert Cappucci, and Jim Morse.

Due to the number of candidates, there is no need for a preliminary election in September, according to City Clerk Ed Finn. In 2011, for the first time in over a decade, a primary election was needed in the mayoral race to narrow down the field of three candidates to two.

The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5.

The Mayor, School Committee members, and City Councilors are each elected to two year terms.