This week, Prattville City Councillor Bob Bishop announced he will not pursue re-election for a second term, opening up the District 1 seat for other candidates to compete for.
“fblikebutton_button” “I’ve decided I’m not going to be running
this time around,” he said. “We’ll see what transpires in the future, but I
think I’ve had enough this time.”
In 2017, Bishop won the District 1 seat after Paul Murphy, the previous councillor, decided to step back to focus on his young family. The former City Clerk in Chelsea and former alderman under the previous governmental structure, Bishop established himself as a fiscal conservative voice during a period marked by substantial municipal spending on improvements and programming.
His current term concludes in early January 2020, during which time he will remain in office.
Although Bishop obtained Nomination papers in May, he ultimately decided against submitting them.
Currently, City records indicate that Todd Taylor is the sole candidate who has pulled papers for this position.
In the 2017 election, Taylor came close to defeating Bishop and has previously served on the Planning Board. He obtained his papers on July 11.
The deadline for candidates to submit their completed Nomination Papers with signatures is Aug. 4.
•The at-large Council race has generated considerable activity, with all three sitting members pulling papers alongside three new challengers.
Council President Damali Vidot, Roy Avellaneda and Leo Robinson are the incumbents who have pulled their papers. Three newcomers—Mark Rossi (currently License Board Chair, Clark Avenue resident), Karen Santos (Cook Street), and Christopher Winam (Congress Avenue)—appear positioned to challenge them.
Luis Tejada, the District 2 incumbent, has submitted his papers for re-election and faces challengers Olivia Anne Walsh of the Soldiers’ Home and Melinda Vega Maldonado of Clark Avenue.
Nelson Molina of Marlborough Street, who pulled his papers on May 1, may challenge incumbent Enio Lopez in District 4.
District 5 Councillor Judith Garcia is running for another term but already has competition from Jason Bonetti of Beacon Street.
Giovanni Recupero in District 6 has filed for re-election, though he could face Christopher Assante of Hawthorne Street.
As of now, District 3’s Joe Perlatonda, District 7’s Yamir Rodriguez and District 8’s Calvin Brown have all filed for re-election without any challengers yet.
•Frank DePatto, the incumbent at-large School Committee member, is facing opposition from former member Sean O’Regan and newcomer Roberto Andres Jimenez-Rivera.
Two challengers—James O’Regan and Bruce Harrison—are competing against incumbent Rosemarie Carlisle in District 1.
Lucia Henriquez, the District 4 incumbent, has an opponent in Sabrina Marie Wadhams of Gerrish Avenue.
Kelly Garcia, District 7 School Committeewoman, has a potential challenger in former member Charles Klauder, who previously served on the Committee for several terms.
Incumbents in the remaining districts have pulled papers but face no challengers at this time.