The window for candidates to declare for office in the upcoming elections was last week, and when the dust settled after the 4 p.m. Wednesday deadline, the names you’ll be hearing over the next few months emerged.

Regional School Committee (three seats available)
There are eight candidates vying for the three Bristol seats whose occupants’ terms are expiring this cycle: Carly Reich, Victor Cabral, and Sheila Ellsworth. Only Reich has filed to run again. Joining her in the non-partisan race are Jessica Almeida, Brian Bradshaw, Adam McGovern, Anthony Morettini, William O’Dell, Margaret Richards, and Richard Ruggiero. O’Dell and Bradshaw have previously served on the Committee; Ruggeiro is a former member of the Town Council.

Town Council (all five to be elected)
Democrats Andrew Broten and Bethany Sousa Foster will be joining fellow Democrats and sitting Council members Aaron Ley and Timothy Sweeney in the Sept. 13 primary; sitting Council member Mary Parella will be the sole Republican in the race. They will be joined in the Nov. 8 general election by Independent candidates Tony Teixeira, Nathan Calouro, and Edward Stuart. Teixeira and Calouro are both current members of the Council; Stuart is a former member. Both Calouro and Stuart were registered Democrats in their last respective races.

General Assembly
Both of Bristol’s Representatives, June Speakman (D-68) and Susan Donovan (D-69) are running to retain their seats. Speakman will have two challengers: Republican Rae-Ann Lawrence and Independent William Hunt; Donovan will be opposed by Republican Robert O’Neill.

On the Senate side, only Wally Felag (D-10) is seeking reelection. He will be challenged byRepublican Allyn Meyers. The District 11 seat being vacated by James Seveney now has five hopeful candidates: Democrats Matthew Chappell and Linda Ujifusa, Republican Kenneth Mendonca, and Independents Andrew Kelly and Mario Teixeira. There are also 5 candidates hoping to take over the District 10 seat, with Cynthia Coyne stepping down at the end of her current term. They are Republican Rhonda Holmes; Democrats Susannah Holloway and Pamela Lauria; and Independents Steven Shuman and Kenneth Marshall, who previously served as the Representative for House district 68 from 2013 to 2019.

Town government
We can confidently call the November elections for Bristol Town Administrator Steven Contente (I) and Town Clerk Melissa Cordeiro (D); both are running unopposed.

Council Chairman changes affiliation
Observant voters will note that Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro, a longtime Democrat, filed this year as an Independent. Reached for comment, Calouro cited the fact that as a moderate candidate who sees value in a range of ideas and positions, filing as an Independent makes more sense for him.

“I have been a registered Democrat for over 14 years, but who I am hasn't changed,” he said. “As a balanced moderate, I agree with a lot of Democratic principles. I also agree with some Republican principles, for example, I’m fairly fiscally conservative…Most voters are in the same place, with something like 70 percent registering as unaffiliated.”

Citing the Council’s current makeup — three Democrats, one Republican, and an Independent, Calouro cited how well they work together, regardless of affiliation and the fact that they don’t always agree.

“The council gets along very well and very respectfully and that is not going to change,” he said. He also noted that when it comes to local politics, party affiliation often takes a backseat. “When I speak to people, they speak of voting for the person,” he said. “I think the Independent moniker better suits who I am. Unaffiliated better represents how I present myself.”

Democrats make endorsements
Last Thursday, the day after the filing deadline, the Bristol Democratic Town Committee (BDTC) announced their endorsements for the 2022 election. They include incumbent Melissa Cordeiro for Town Clerk, and for the Council, incumbent Timothy Sweeney, incumbent Aaron Ley, Bethany Sousa Foster, and Andrew Broten.

“This is a slate of candidates we can be proud of,” said BDTC Chairman Erich Haslehurst. “From our incumbents, who have given so much to our community, to the newcomers, who will bring a fresh perspective to the Council….we commend everyone who decided to run – regardless of party affiliation.”

“We look forward to a healthy debate on the issues facing our community and know that our candidates and our committee are committed to running positive campaigns.”