AGAWAM — Mayor, City Council and School Committee are all up for election this fall, and several candidates have already submitted their papers to be eligible.
According to a list sent by Agawam City Clerk Vincent Gioscia, Mayor Christopher Johnson is seeking reelection to his seat, and as of press time, has no challengers.
Johnson won the mayor’s office in the November 2023 general election with 53% of the vote after former Mayor William Sapelli declined to run for reelection.
He was Agawam’s first mayor, serving five two-year terms from 1990 to 2000. He also served as town solicitor from 2008 to 2009. He was elected to the City Council in 2012, and was elected council president in 2018.
Unlike the mayor’s race, the City Council contest is crowded, with 17 candidates looking for a seat on the body, including five newcomers and one familiar face. According to the list, all 11 incumbents are seeking reelection, including City Council President Rosemary Sandlin and City Council Vice President Anthony Russo.
Among the newcomers running are Peter McNair, Christine Rickmon, Uduak Enyiema, Richard Borsari and Mark Del Negro. According to the list, only Borsari has not returned his papers yet.
After losing to Johnson in the November election for mayor in 2023, Cecilia Calabrese has returned to the fold as the other City Council candidate. Calabrese was a former Agawam council member who unsuccessfully ran for state senate as a Republican in 2022.
Chaired by Johnson, the Agawam School Committee has seven nominees listed for this year’s election, including the six incumbents. Helen Zielenski is the newcomer, according to the list, and only Dawn DeMatteo has not returned papers yet.
Gioscia said a preliminary election will happen on Oct. 7, if necessary. The general election is Nov. 4, and polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reminder Publishing will have more on the candidates themselves as election season approaches.
