By Adam Swift
Early voting for the Nov. 4 municipal election gets underway at City Hall this Saturday, Oct. 25.
Early voting will take place Saturday, Oct. 25 through Friday, Oct. 31 at the City Clerk’s Office, 500 Broadway – Room 209, Chelsea.
Hours for Saturday, Oct. 25 are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 27, through Friday, Oct. 31, early voting will take place during regular City Hall business hours (M, W, Th: 8-4 p.m., Tues: 8-7 p.m. & F: 8-12 p.m.).
Saturday, Oct. 25, is also the last day to register to vote in person at the City Clerk’s office. The office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The regular polling locations will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There are several contested races for city council and school committee in this year’s election.
In the city council at-large race, there are five candidates for three positions. Joining incumbent at-large councilors Leo Robinson, Kelly Garcia, and Roberto Jimenez-Rivera on the ballot are Nicholas Gregoretti and Yesenia Alfaro.
District 1 Councilor Todd Taylor is facing a challenge from Christian DeJesus Franco. In District 2, incumbent Melinda Vega is being challenged by Deron Hines.
In District 4, incumbent councilor Tanairi Garcia is being challenged by Marnie MacAlpine, while in District 8, incumbent Calvin Brown is being challenged by Marcezi Kotoni.
Council candidates who are running unopposed include incumbents Norieliz DeJesus in District 3, Lisa Santagate in District 5, Giovanni Recupero in District 6, and Manuel Teshe in District 7.
For the school committee, at-large member Katherine Cabral is running unopposed.
In District 1, incumbent Shawn O’Regan is being challenged by Hugo Perdomo, while in District 5, incumbent Jonathan Gomez-Pereira is being challenged by Katherine Palencia.
Running unopposed for the school committee are incumbents Sarah Neville in District 2, Mayra Balderas in District 4, Claryangeliz Covas Caraballo in District 5, Ana Hernandez in District 6, and Lucia Henriquez in District 7. Jacob Small is running unopposed for the District 8 school committee seat.