By Joan F. Simoneau, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – In a preliminary election to be held Tuesday, Oct. 4, city voters will have an opportunity to choose which two mayoral candidates will compete for the seat being vacated by Mayor Nancy Stevens. Arthur Vigeant, Jim Mosso and Matthew Jones have been certified by Principal Clerk Elections Travis Mason, and will appear on the ballot.
Vigeant has been an at-large city councilor for 18 years and has served as council president for nine years. A native of Marlborough, he was educated in local schools and is a certified public accountant. A city resident for 17 years, Mosso owns an online news service and works with Helping Hands Monkey Helpers for the Disabled. Jones is a lawyer with offices in Marlborough and at Faneuil Hall in Boston, focusing on estate planning and family law. He taught seventh-grade social studies in Needham for six years before coming to Marlborough eight years ago.
On the general election Nov. 1 ballot, eight will be vying for four councilor-at-large seats, including incumbents Patricia Pope and Michael Ossing. Other candidates include Joseph P. Collins, who opposed Stevens in the 2009 mayoral election; and Mark Oram, a former city councilor. School Committee member Kathleen Robey has chosen to give up her seat on that committee to vie for an at-large post, along with Mark Evangelous, Paul Brodeur and Aaron Ferrecchia.
School Committee members Margaret Dwyer and Katherine Hennessy and newcomer Heidi Matthews will assume the three school board seats.
Running unopposed in four of the seven ward seats are: Ward 1 Councilor Joe Delano, Ward 4 Councilor Robert Tunnera, Ward 6 Councilor Robert Seymour and Ward 7 Councilor Edward Clancy.
In Ward 2, incumbent Paul Ferro is being challenged by Richard Jenkins of 19 Indian Lane. Ward 3 Councilor Matt Elder is opposed by George Stein of 28 Sandini Rd. and in Ward 7, Todd Beauchemin of 29 Fontaine St. is opposing incumbent Don Landers.
Assabet Valley School Committee member Joseph Valarioti is running unopposed.