Councilors Calabrese, Johnson, Sandlin eye mayoral runs

June 7, 2023 | Michael Ballway
mballway@thereminder.com

AGAWAM — The last time Agawam’s mayor decided not to run for reelection, the town saw a three-way race that had to be narrowed in an October preliminary election.

This year could see a repeat, as three candidates — all of them sitting city councilors — have taken out papers to run for the town’s chief executive post, with two and a half months still remaining in the nomination period.

Councilors Cecilia Calabrese, Christopher Johnson and Rosemary Sandlin have all expressed interest. In order to be nominated, candidates have to collect at least 100 signatures of registered Agawam voters. Nominating papers are available until Aug. 18, and must be returned by Aug. 22, at the town clerk’s office in Town Hall, 36 Main St., Agawam.

All three have experience running for higher office. Johnson, the current council president, was Agawam’s first mayor, serving 1990-1999 before deciding not to run for reelection. Sandlin was the town’s state representative for three terms, starting in 2007. Calabrese ran unsuccessfully for state senator last year, and also served as vice president of the council for six years.

The incumbent mayor, William Sapelli, announced in May that he would not run for reelection after serving three terms. He had taken office after defeating then-City Council President James Cichetti in the November 2017 election. The two of them had previously edged out business owner Vakny Chonmany in the October preliminary election.

If there are more than twice as many candidates as seats available, the town will conduct a preliminary election in October to bring the ballot down to no more than two mayoral candidates, no more than 22 councilor candidates and no more than 12 candidates for School Committee.

So far, neither the council nor the School Committee have attracted enough interest to require a preliminary election. As of June 1, there are 12 candidates with nomination papers for the 11 available seats on the City Council, and six candidates for the six seats on the School Committee.

All 11 of the current councilors have taken out nomination papers either for mayor, councilor or both. Calabrese and Sandlin, who have papers for both offices, will have to decide whether they wish to run for mayor or council. The remaining eight incumbents have all taken out papers for reelection: George Bitzas, Paul Cavallo, Thomas Hendrickson, Dino Mercadante, Robert Rossi, Anthony Russo, Gerald Smith and Anthony Suffriti. Two newcomers are in the running, so far, Edward Borgatti and Maria Valego. Of these, Borgatti, Hendrickson, Mercadante, Rossi and Russo have already returned their papers with signatures, said Town Clerk Vince Gioscia.

For the School Committee, incumbents Shelley Borgatti-Reed, Dawn DeMatteo, Kerri O’Connor, Michael Perry and Wendy Rua have taken out papers, along with challenger Catherine McDougal. Incumbent A.J. Christopher had not taken out papers for reelection as of June 1.

Although Agawam is divided into eight precincts, all positions on Agawam’s ballot are elected at large. All seats are for two-year terms.

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