AUBURN — Familiar faces are the rule on the city's November municipal ballot.
Of the current council, only Mayor John Jenkins is not seeking another term. Incumbent councilors in Wards 2, 3, 4 and 5 are the only candidates for their seats, meaning they are almost guaranteed to return to their jobs.
With Jenkins bowing out, the race for mayor appears to be the biggest contest on the ballot. At-large Councilor Ron Potvin and former councilor Dick Gleason are vying for the seat.
Gleason was elected to the City Council as the representative from Ward 1 in 2006. That was a shortened term, one year, because voters had approved a new City Charter that changed elections from even years to odd years.
He considered running for mayor in 2007 but bowed out from that race and from his council seat, citing the need for more personal time and time for his business.
Potvin was elected to the City Council in 2006 as well, after seeking one of two at-large seats in 2004. He was re-elected in 2007.
Sitting Councilor Bob Mennealy is seeking another at-large term. He's been on the council since 2002. He'll be joined on the at-large ballot by former Ward 5 Councilor Belinda Gerry, Kenneth Bellefleur, Eric G. Samson and Gary E. Baillargeon.
Baillargeon ran unsuccessfully against Samson for the Ward 3 seat in 2004. Samson served from 2004 through 2007, when he ran for mayor. Samson lost that race to Jenkins.
Bellefleur was one of three candidates seeking to replace Bruce Bickford as the Ward 4 councilor in January. He lost to David Young.
In Ward 1, Councilor Michael Farrell will face Richard Francoeur, 87 Western Ave., for his seat.
Ward 2 Councilor Robert Hayes, Ward 3 Councilor Dan Herrick, Ward 4 Councilor David Young and Ward 5 Councilor Ray Berube have no challengers for their seats. Barring a write-in campaign challenge, they'll all be back in office.
Most incumbent members of Auburn's School Committee also will be back in office after November.
Member Lane Feldman from Ward 1, Bonnie Hayes from Ward 2 and Tom Kendall from Ward 3 and at-large members David Das and Francois Bussiere have no challengers.
In Ward 4, former member Susan Gaylord is seeking to replace Jason Pawlina as the representative. Pawlina is not seeking another term.
Incumbent Ward 5 representative Larry Pelletier will face challenger Constance Mercier.
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