By Seth Daniel
The biggest news ahead of next Tuesday’s Sept. 26 Preliminary Election is that the crowded and talented field of candidates in Prattville’s District 1 has been narrowed down from four to three.
Sylvia Ramirez, a long-time organizer at the Chelsea Collaborative, announced that she would not seek the District 1 seat, withdrawing before her name was placed on the ballot.
Ramirez told the Record that she made the decision with her family.
“If I’m not 100 percent in it, then I cannot do it, and in this case my family had to come first,” she said.
With Ramirez out, there is still a very talented field of candidates that will be narrowed from three to two for the City Election on Nov. 7.
Those left include:
- Todd Taylor, Nichols Street
- Robert Bishop, Cook Avenue
- Shawn O’Regan, Garfield Avenue
That field features a wealth of experience and virtually every candidate is a solid, qualified choice.
Taylor is a member of the Planning Board and has run for at-Large in the last election cycle. Meanwhile, Bishop is a former councillor and the former City Clerk with deep roots in the City.
O’Regan is a sitting School Committeeman and very involved in youth sports – not to mention having been in the City for as far back as most can remember.
It will be an interesting race, and handicappers are staying away from any predictions.
Meanwhile, on Admiral’s Hill in District 8, three candidates are looking to land the seat.
They include:
- Zaida Ismatul Oliva, Winnisimmet Street
- Calvin Brown, Commandants Way
- Jermaine Williams, Admirals Way
That race is also anyone’s guess, but word on the street is that Brown is working very hard to get back onto the Council as a District representative.