Mayoral race highlights what's expected to be busy Marlborough City Election on Nov. 7

MARLBOROUGH — The city is preparing for what figures to be one of its busiest and most competitive local elections in recent history, as candidates square off throughout the city on Tuesday in a bevy of competitive races.

Getting top billing will be what's expected to be a close race for mayor, as J. Christian Dumais takes on Samantha Perlman in a clash between two city councilors seeking to succeed six-term incumbent Arthur Vigeant, who announced earlier this year that he would retire at year's end.

Dumais, 42, has served three two-year terms on the City Council, representing Ward 3. A local business owner who owns DruMais Salon and Spa on Springhill Avenue, Dumais is running on a platform aimed at encouraging greater diversity in city employment, increasing communication from City Hall, higher pay for city employees in order to compete with jobs in neighboring communities, and completing the establishment of a west side fire station.

'How can we be accessible': Dumais says Marlborough must make things clear for all residents

Perlman, 28, was elected to the City Council in 2019, serving as an at-large councilor. A law student with a professional background in the nonprofit sector and working in educational advocacy, Perlman is running on a platform that includes hiring a city planner and developing a master plan for the city, as well as working to increase community engagement. Like Dumais, she intends to evaluate the salaries of city employees and focus on completing the west side fire station project.

In last month's preliminary election, Perlman topped the ticket with 1,766 votes, ahead of Dumais' 1,491. Patrick Hogan was a close third, with 1,409 votes, with Michael Baker collecting 148 votes.

Turnout for the preliminary election was relatively high, with 4,822 (19.2%) of Marlborough's 25,091 registered voters casting ballots. That figure is nearly double the turnout for the city's last preliminary election, and was even higher than 2021 city election that saw Vigeant elected to his sixth term.

"We are expected to see a pretty good turnout this Tuesday," City Clerk Steve Kerrigan said Thursday. "I'm anticipating right now around 30% turnout, but that could change. Right now through early voting, we have about 400 ballots submitted, or 2% turnout, and that might pick up in coming days. I'm very optimistic about the numbers this year."

'Set the tone for our future': Perlman says Marlborough needs master plan, sees youth as strength

City Council races sees challengers up and down the ballot

Adding to the intrigue is what appears to be competitive races for spots on the City Council, which will see some new faces.

For the four at-large council seats, three incumbents are running for re-election — Mark Oram, Mike Ossing and Kathleen Robey. The fourth at-large councilor is Perlman, and her mayoral run has drawn newcomer Scott King and Ward 6 Councilor Sean Navin into the race.

In Ward 2, incumbent David Doucette has a challenger in James Jumonville. In Ward 4, incumbent Teona Brown faces Thomas Dalton, and in Ward 7, incumbent Donald Landers is challenged by Harmony Larson.

In Ward 6, with Navin seeking an at-large seat, there will be a new face on the City Council. Maureen Brennan, a lawyer who previously worked for the city as a finance officer, will take on Albert Trey Fuccillo, an Emerson College student who has worked as a delegate for the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention.

In Ward 1, Mark Vital will run unopposed, as incumbent Laura Wagner is not seeking reelection. And in Ward 3, with incumbent Dumais running for mayor, the path is clear for Robert Preciado to claim the seat.

Races are decidedly less competitive on the Marlborough School Committee, with incumbents Dan Caruso, Katherine Hennessy and Heidi Adler Matthews all running unopposed. Peggy Ayres is seeking re-election to the Assabet Valley Regional Tech School Committee, and is also running unopposed.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Mayor, several City Council seats at stake Marlborough City Election