EASTHAMPTON – The November election in Easthampton will feature two contested races – one for city councilor at-large and one for mayor. Candidates had until Sept. 14 to submit their nomination papers with signatures.

The mayoral race this year currently features three candidates – Eric Berzins, Keith Routhier, and incumbent Mayor Nicole LaChapelle.

According to City Clerk Barbara LaBombard, ranked choice voting will be utilized for the first time in this year’s mayoral race because there are two or more candidates. Residents will be allowed to rank all qualified candidates on the ballot. The mayoral race is for a four-year term.

Easthampton is also looking to fill four seats for city councilor at-large. There are currently six candidates running for these positions, including three candidates running for re-election – Owen Zaret, Erica Flood and Lindsey Rothschild. The other three newcomers running are Koni Fay Denham, Brad Riley and David Meunier. The four open seats are for a two-year term.

School Committee and district city councilor positions will not feature any contested races this year.

All the current district councilors including James Kwiecinski, Homar Gomez, Tom Peake, Salem Derby, and Daniel Rist are running for reelection in their respective districts. The district positions are for a two-year term. Kwiecinski is a part of District 1, Gomez is a part of District 2, Peake is a part of District 3, Derby is a part of District 4, and Rist – who is also the vice president of the council – is a part of District 5.

Six candidates are running for the six open School Committee seats, each of which have two-year terms. Four candidates are running for reelection without a contest including Marin Goldstein, current Chair Cynthia Kwiecinski, Shannon Dunham and Laurie Garcia. Newcomers Benjamin Hersey and Megan Harvey are the other two candidates running uncontested.

“It’s fairly typical that School Committee is rarely contested,” said LaBombard.

According to LaBombard, this year’s turnout for candidates is “normal” compared to other years. There will be no preliminary elections because the city’s charter does not allow for those to happen.

Nominees have until Sept. 30 to withdraw their candidacy. The ballot order will officially be set on that day, according to LaBombard.

Reminder Publishing will conduct a more extensive look into individual candidates after the Sept. 30 deadline.