PORTSMOUTH — Once again, Democrats appear to have a numerical advantage over Republicans heading into this year’s town council election, fielding a full slate of seven candidates compared with the GOP’s four.

But that was also the case two years ago, when Republicans regained control of the council despite running only four candidates for the seven available seats. Could history repeat itself?

Town council

Here’s who filed candidacy papers for the council by the Wednesday, June 24, deadline:

Democrats:

• David P. Fiorillo, chairman of the Portsmouth Parks and Recreation Committee, who ran unsuccessfully for council in 2024

• Leonard B. Katzman, former council member who resigned his seat in May 2024 to care for his ailing wife

• John G. McDaid, local journalist and blogger

• Juan Carlos Payero, incumbent who previously served on the School Committee

• Alexander Lewis Roberts, a newcomer

• John Mark Ryan, former council member who was defeated in the 2024 election

• M. Conley Wake Zani, a newcomer

Republicans:

• David M. Gleason, incumbent and the council’s vice president

• Keith E. Hamilton, incumbent and the council’s president

• Sharlene Maria Patton, incumbent

• David G. Reise, incumbent

Independent:

Mary Anne McDowell, incumbent

(McDowell, Gleason, Patton and Reise have frequently voted together to form a 4-3 majority on the council.)

School committee

School committee elections are staggered, with four seats on the ballot this November. No Republicans are running this year, while Democrats have fielded three candidates:

• Incumbent Isabelle Altman Kelly

• Tasha Marie MacGibbon, who ran unsuccessfully for Town Council in 2024

• Valerie Anne Seveney, a longtime local educator

One independent candidate also filed papers: incumbent Brett W. Fox. Fox narrowly lost his bid for the school committee in 2024 but was later appointed by the council to fill the vacancy created when Sondra Blank was elected to the council that year.

Statewide races

All four legislators who represent Portsmouth in the Rhode Island General Assembly are running again as Democrats — and they will all be unopposed:

• Senate, District 11: Linda Lee Ujifusa 

• House, District 69: Susan Ann Donovan

• House, District 71: Michelle Elise McGaw

• House, District 72: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Note: Michelle McGaw is the wife of Jim McGaw, editor of The Portsmouth Times.