Six testing water for Lewiston Council bid

LEWISTON — Six candidates, including one sitting councilor, have signaled their intent to run for seats on the City Council this year, circulating nominating petitions.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no petitions had been handed in to the City Clerk's office. The petitions for a spot on the Nov. 3 ballot became available Monday.
In Ward 1, Stanley Pelletier of 28 S. Surry Lane, and John Butler, of 20 Ware St., are collecting signatures. In Ward 2, Donald D'Auteuil of 368 East Ave. is collecting signatures. Donald Walsh, of 15 Jefferson St. is collecting signatures to have his name placed on the ballot in Ward 3, and Charles Soule, of 135 Bartlett St., is vying for a spot on the Ward 5 ballot.
Ward 4 Councilor Denis Theriault, of 21 Marguerette St., had begun circulating nominating petitions Tuesday.
School Committee member Jim Handy, 9 Maplewood Road, is collecting signatures for a reelection to his school committee spot from Ward 4.
In all, 16 seats are open in November's election — seven city councilors, eight School Committee members and the mayor.
Candidates have until Sept. 4 to circulate the petitions and collect signatures. Candidates for the mayor's job need to collect signatures from 100 registered city voters. Candidates for the School Committee at-large position must collect 50 signatures from registered Lewiston voters.
Candidates for the City Council or other School Committee positions need to collect 50 signatures from registered Lewiston voters. For all council seats and School Committee ward seats, the signatures must come from residents of the candidates' ward.
All candidates must be at least 20 years old, must be registered voters of Lewiston and qualified to vote in their ward before June 4. All positions are for two-year terms beginning Jan. 5, 2010.
Questions regarding the procedures for nomination papers or the municipal election process should be directed to the clerk's office at 513-3124.
staylor@sunjournal.com