Election Day is Every Tuesday: 9/14-20
This week doesn’t seem like a lot, but some of these are very important.
In San Francisco CA, republicans are trying to recall the Supervisor for district 4
In Washington County GA, a guy who thinks women should be submissive to men is trying to become Commisioner for District 1.
Of course we have the election to fill Melissa Hortman’s seat (though not her shoes) in MN
And in DeForest WI the village trustees may bring floride in drinking water back, if the right person is elected.
And that’s just some of what’s a stake.
So there is a lot riding in this week.
As always, this is way longer than an email, so click on the title to see the whole post without interruption.
And of course to my incredible volunteers, Nancy and Michelle RF Masters, you are both shining lights and I’m in awe of the work you’re able to do. I could never do this without either of you.
Alright, here’s the breakdown:
Tues Sept 16 - CA, FL, GA, MD, MA, MN, NH, and WI
Thurs Sept 18 - TN
Sat Sept 20 - DE
Tuesday September 16
California
San Francisco
SF Board of Supervisors District 4 Recall Election of Supervisor Joel Engardio.
Here is an excellent summary article, and here’s another. it cannot be understated that there is a significant risk of the mayor electing a conservative to fill this seat if the recall vote succeeds.
Florida
Marion County
Ocala
Mayor
Ben Marciano – incumbent Experience: current Mayor Priorities: fully funding and staffing the police department, supporting mental health resources, improve physical health for children and the community, increased communication with community, locating resources
Zackary Feliciano Experience: Publix Priorities: support local charity organizations, establishing free city run health clinics to serve uninsured, housing reform and & land conservation, homelessness, detangle police department from ICE, hold large corporations accountable for fair share of taxes
City Council District 3
Mark Clark Experience: veteran Priorities: community service, transparency with budgets, support the police and fire departments
TamBoura Jenkins Experience: healthcare management, real estate agent Priorities: supporting local business owners, creating higher paying jobs, creating affordable housing
City Council Place 1 and 5 are uncontested
Georgia
Cook County
District 1
County Commissioner:
Phil Morris Jr. (DEM),
Willie R. Wooten (DEM),
Brian Harrell (Independent).
Washington County
County Commissioner:
District 1
Ronnie Freeman (likely REP, reposts videos about how women should be submissive to men),
Felisa Hicks Cooper (Priorities: Transparency, support the local hospital, improve roadways, hold monthly town meetings, increase community engagement),
Harlan T. Archer (REP)
Maryland
Ann Arundel County
Annapolis
Mayor (Hold):
Rhonda Pindell Charles (DEM, current Alderperson, in current position she helped to organize summer pop-up camps for kids, co-sponsored a bill to mandate trauma informed education and intervention methods, supported a bill adding additional social workers to schools, voted to create a renewable energy park, helped designate historic landmarks for protection, supported climate control actions, protected local forests, supported low and moderately priced housing initiatives, helped create a commission to ensure the safety of local marine life),
Jared Littmann (DEM, Priorities: "Customer focus...Responsive Government...Eco Friendly", spent over $35,000 on this campaign).
Alderperson
Ward 1:
Harry Huntley (DEM, incumbent, since being elected he has introduced a bill to help the city assist elderly and disabled citizens clear their sidewalks, he has been testing out multiple parking systems throughout the city and soliciting feedback to see what method produces the fewest fines for citizens while also being user friendly, approved the move to ranked choice voting for city positions which will start in 2029, voted to make city employee salaries and job descriptions more transparent).
Ron Gunzburger (DEM, lawyer, worked with the governor on the state's Covid response plan, worked as civilian counsel with Florida's police department to enact major justice reforms, has led many campaigns in LGBT+ activism, Priorities: Stop the Maritime Welcome Center, protect the city from flooding, staff a new emergency rescue unit to decrease wait times, improve connections between bike lanes, reduce property taxes for some, implement a parking solution, balance the budget without increasing taxes).
Kathleen McDermott (DEM, Priorities: Crime prevention, restrict short-term rentals and cut back on development, improve parking, revitalize public housing, support small business, expand voting rights to include all residents in non-partisan primaries).
Genevieve Torri (DEM, Priorities: Expand bikeways, improve sidewalks, invest in cleaner public transportation, support zoning law changes to bring in more middle income housing, revitalize abandoned buildings into residential housing, improve timely access to city services).
Ward 3:
Deborah “Debbie” Odum (DEM, *there is info on her website but the font is so small and blurred even at max zoom I cannot read it*), Keanuú Smith-Brown (DEM, Priorities: Public safety, fund youth programs and family focused activities, make sure the streets and sidewalks leading toward the schools are safe, address public health issues that reoccur in government owned buildings, expand green spaces and access to healthy foods, support more community markets, keep the area affordable, has been volunteering/working in government roles since the age of 13 with the goal of uplifting all people).
Ward 6:
Craig Cussimanio (DEM),
Diesha Contee (DEM).
Frederick County
Frederick
Mayor:
Ronald A. Beattie (DEM, Priorities: Find affordable childcare options for city residents, prioritize moderately priced housing, work to reduce school overcrowding, protect marginalized and vulnerable populations, use AI and experience to create a plan to reduce traffic congestion, create a long-term growth plan for the city and ensure that projects get completed in a timely manner, invest in arts/culture/heritage, work with local NGOs to improve sustainability and protect the city against climate change),
Michael O'Connor (DEM, Incumbent, supported the Black Lives Matter movement, led reforms to improve voting access, filled vacant properties, hired a new chief of police who has helped bring crime to a 20 year low, improved ADA compliance, improved bike and pedestrian lanes, restarted a bulk good collection to improve sustainability and supported small businesses, upgraded the waste water treatment to be in line with latest health requirements, prioritized a commitment to shift city electricity to 100% renewable energy, committed to increasing the tree canopy).
City Council
At-Large:
Jennifer Dougherty (DEM),
Donna Kuzemchak (DEM, in previous terms in government has restored the grave sites of black citizens which were removed and covered by previous administration, fought to remove statues of confederates from public buildings, supported DEI initiatives, supported language/financial/and special education access in schools, fought to remove plastic bags, intiatie low impact city landscaping, supported electric vehicle purchases, supported the purchase and development of parks and recreational centers),
Kelly Russell (DEM, incumbent),
Derek Shackelford (DEM, Methodist pastor, helped establish a DEI program at the city, wants to reduce educational and resource disparities, wants to improve access to healthcare, helped support a climate emergency initiative, make childcare more affordable, improve access to educational opportunities in the overcrowded schools by adding on more space and programming, reduce disparities in the way that city contracts are awarded, rental assistance, zoning law changes, and other changes to improve housing access and appropriate housing pricing),
Libby Taylor (DEM, Priorities: Attainable housing, affordable childcare, invest in roads and public spaces).
City Council District 3:
Peter Brehm (DEM, Priorities: Promote zero-energy and energy efficient buildings, expand solar power initiatives, build EV charging infrastructure, begin moving government vehicles toward electric, start a bike and scooter share program, stop the sale of green spaces, reduce light pollution, make storm water improvements, reduce timelines and increase fines for blighted properties, create weekend visitor packages, start a patrol team to harass people that loiter in public parks, increase affordable housing options and reduce barriers to current low-income renters/rentals, build cooling centers around the city, establish homeless shelters for LGBTQ+ youth and adults, create wrap-around health/mental health service programs for people receiving shelter services, make translation of city government meetings and other resources available in Spanish and ASL, hire more police officers, make wifi available throughout the city),
David Schmidt (DEM, Priorities: Supervise development to make sure it is appropriate for the city, invest in infrastructure, tax airbnbs that provide short-term rentals for more than 50% of the year as businesses, change laws to allow historic buildings to make changes that are in line with climate change and affordability, advocate for public transportation, improve parking).
City Council District 4:
S. Scott Lasher (DEM),
Fredy Ventura Garcia (DEM, Priorities: Increase affordable housing, hire more teachers, add in mobile units to the schools, consider redistricting the schools and/or allowing more freedom for students to opt into virtual education, expand transportation options that allow residents to access healthcare facilities, support the creation of a satellite healthcare center to bridge the gap in existing emergency care and overcrowding, increase greenspace preservation, increase biodiversity in the local creek, establish a city childcare program to employee young adults and older adults to help provide affordable and accessible childcare, increase the salary for school bus drivers and lower the minimum age requirement to increase the number of people who qualify to become bus drivers, committed to advancing opportunities for immigrants/minorities/and LGBTQ+ people, support rent stabilization).
City Council District 5:
Sarah Hempel Irani (DEM),
Ryan Trout (DEM, Priorities: Safe affordable housing, safe streets, reliable public transportation, improved biking and pedestrian lanes, support small businesses, expand parks and access to the arts, create affordable childcare options including summer care through zoning changes to allow more childcare facilities to be built and supporting city summer programs for kids, improve the safety of the roads leading in to the schools).
Massachusetts
You can see the exact moment Nancy realized how many elections MA really has this week.
Bristol County
Fall River
Essex County
Gloucester
Jeffrey Worthley incumbent Experience: former at-large councilor and Ward 3 councilor
Paul Lundberg Experience: former councilor at large
Gregory Verga incumbent
Kenneth Quimby Jr Experience: former city councilor
Guy Cooper Experience: retired police officer
Melissa Lewandowski INDEPENDENT incumbent Experience: attorney, current councilor Priorities: education and empowering youth, supporting innovative educational programs,
Oliver Aguilo Experience: assistant city engineer and grants project coordinator, City of Lawrence, Conservation Commissioner, City of Haverhill Priorities: dedicated to sports and community development, an inclusive community with barriers or discrimination
Michael McGonagle - incumbent Experience: current city councilor
Timothy Carroll, Jr Experience: firefighter
Mayor
Brian Depena incumbent
Juan Gonzalez
Councilor at Large (3)
Ana Levy incumbent
Celina Reyes incumbent
Jeovanny Rodriguez
Frederick Diaz
John Rigal
Nilson Rosario
Richard Russell
School Committee (3)
Jonathan Guzman incumbent
Eliaquin Gonell
Jessica Ramirez
Luis Robles
Greater Lawrence Technical School Committee (3)
Zoila Disla incumbent
Julio Mejia incumbent
Edinson Mercedes incumbent
Josias Mendez
Vladmir Acevedo
Ramon Lopez
Franklin Miguel
Myra Ortiz Experience: School Committee member, former city councilor
Lissy Rivas
Wendy Luzon incumbent
Rosaly Gonzalez
Gregory Del Rosario incumbent
Victor Hernandez
Vivian Marmol incumbent
Irisenia Mata
Stephany Infante incumbent
Eric Machuca
Candidate unopposed
Methuen
Ward 6 Councilor
James Eichhorst
Mary Delai
Philip Cootey
Hamden County
Chicopee
City Collector
Frederick Krampits Experience: Ward 5 councilor
Sandra Peret
Rajesh Sanghvi
Holyoke (Wards 1 and 5 only)
Hampshire County
Northampton –
Mayor
Daniel Breindel Experience: broadcasting at local radio stations Priorities: : Picture Main Street project, school spending, road repairs, refilling empty storefronts, reopening historic venues, prioritize basic services over capital projects, affordable homes
Gina-Louise Sciarra -DEMOCRAT incumbent Experience: Mayor of Northampton, city councilor Priorities: to make Northampton more affordable, equitable and accessible
David Dombrowski INDEPENDENT Experience: police officer Priorities: keep jobs here, bring in additional businesses, education, responsible tax dollars, efficient government, reducing taxes and removing unnecessary regulations, maintain infrastructure
Jillian Duclos DEMOCRAT Experience: Exec Director of the Downtown Northampton Association, VP of Operations for Sylvesters and Robertos Priorities: investing in Northampton Public Schools by advocating for resources, sustaining 2026 budget investments, leveraging technology and engaging the community, prioritize the city operation budget over capital improvements to ensure essential daily services, fiscal transparency, empower residents to have a say in budget decisions
Councilor at Large (2)
Yakov Kronrod Experience: public school educator, co-founder of EPOCA Priorities: fully funding public schools, better teacher salaries, updated technology and enrichment programs, increase affordable housing opportunities, attract businesses, creating good local jobs, improve public works, accelerate transition to 100% renewable energy, foster strong relationships between Smith College and the city, fostering a thriving arts and cultural community
Benjamin Spencer Experience: artist, metal worker, activist Priorities: fully fund city services, continue to promote economic development, more housing, walkable housing, continue supporting the arts, complete Picture Main Street,
William O’Dwyer DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST Experience: Priorities: build publicly owned and permanently affordable mixed income housing developments, create a tenant protection board, invest in PVTA infrastructure, make public transit viable and attractive to getting around, fully fund city’s public schools, support municipal and local unions, advocate for a living wage ordinance, strengthen sanctuary ordinances, divest from L3Harris.
Garrick Perry incumbent Experience: Councilor for District 4, musician, venue manager Priorities: utilize outdoor spaces and find ways to foster more community engagement with the arts, ensure schools have the funding and access they need, complete the redesign of Main Street, ensure Northampton is more inviting to workers and people of color, address housing inequality and create more workforce and low income housing
Deborah Henson Experience: lawyer, social worker, member Ward 3 neighborhood association, board member of Downtown Northampton Association Priorities: transparent, resident- based governing, collaborative problem-solving for the present needs of our community: strong schools, safe sidewalks & streets, affordable housing units (let's require new developments offer 20% affordable and ADA compliant units so people with various needs can live & thrive here.
Margaret Robbins Experience: school committee member Priorities: Sustainable Northampton plan, repairing and maintaining streets and roads,
City Council
Nikolas Netendre-Cahillane DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST Experience: baker, political organizer Priorities: union representation for every worker, living wage ordinances, sanctuary policies, prioritize funding for community members with mental health and housing needs, fully funding schools, explore all avenues for affordable housing, reduce vacancy rate for commercial and residential properties
Michele Ronco Experience: city councilor in Italy Priorities: balance budgets but not at the expense of essential services including education
Gwenevra Nabad Experience: Northampton Housing Partnership Priorities: close inequality gaps in the city, prioritize affordable housing, and adequate funding for schools and public works department
Quaverly Rothenberg incumbent Experience: current councilor Priorities: shift city attention back to fixing streets, sidewalks, fully funding schools, empower the public to weigh in on spending
Laurie Loisel Experience: journalist, served on Human Rights Commission Priorities: provide sanctuary to immigrants and transgender people, support the Dept of Community Care and Resilience Hub, courage landlords to ensure storefronts are occupied, safer streets for all, housing and zoning, ensure Bridge Street School gets the resources and teachers it needs, community communication
Ace Tayloe Experience: Northampton Housing Partnership, Walking School Bus volunteer Priorities: affordable housing, improve current services, fix roads and sidewalks, improve show clearing, fully fund the Dept of Public Works, create a collaborative government, fully fund city budget before capital improvement projects
Vincent Rotello DEMOCRAT IV Experience: barista Priorities: fully staffing schools, end L3Harris operations, fully staff public works department, democratization of capital planning, strengthen labor laws, support unions, prioritize community input, fund the reparations study commission, expand protections for LGBTQ+ community and immigrants, create an affordable -resident friendly Northampton
David Murphy Experience: former city councilor, cities finance committee chair Priorities:
Aline Davis Experience: At-Large school committee member, elementary teacher Priorities: accessible sidewalks, bike lanes and expansion of public transit; improve conditions for unhoused, address housing shortage, fully funding public schools
Middlesex County
District 2 School Committee (1)
David Gordon incumbent
Luther Evans
Lorena Tovar
Malden
Dawn Macklin incumbent
Abeer Annab DEMOCRAT
Jeffrey Donahue
Stephen Winslow incumbent
Jerry Leone REPUBLICAN
William Muise
Medford
Somerville
Mayor
Willie Burnley Jr
Katjana Ballantyne incumbent
Jake Wilson
City Council
Christopher Spicer Experience: Human Rights Commissioner
Will Mbah - incumbent
Kristen Strezo - incumbent
Scott Istvan
Jack Perenick
Marianne Walles
Tuesday Thomas
Holly Simione - Commission for People with Disabilities
Jonathan Link
Justin Klekota
Ari Iaccarino
Ben Wheeler
Wilbert Pineda
Michael Murray DEMOCRAT
Emily Hardt
School Committee
Plymouth County
Mayor (1)
Jean Derenoncourt Experience: councilor at large Priorities: addressing housing shortages, maintain housing quality and prevent deterioration, downtown revitalization, expand the business development hub, promote transit oriented development near rail stations, lower taxes, increase transparency, prioritize mental health resources, restore and maintain parks, develop new community centers, organize community clean-up days, improve community safety, invest in youth programs, protect the environment, improve transportation and infrastructure
Luz Villar Experience: congressional aide, social justice advocate Priorities: promote transparency, use evidence based solutions to reduce violence, address budget deficit audits, provide quality education, drive inclusive growth, address homelessness, expand mental health care, improve public transportation
Eugenie Kavanagh Experience: veteran, licensed social worker Priorities: more funding for education, oversee city departments, managing city budget, constituent services, economic and community development, education
Carina Mompelas Experience: Priorities:
Moises Rodrigues Experience: former Acting Mayor, current At Large Councilor Priorities: more patrols, surveillance cameras and community protection, invest in schools, students and teachers, provide support for entrepreneurs and job creation, create a clean city, care-for neighborhoods and more dignity
Richard Ripley
Richard Reid Experience: Priorities: accountable government, efficiency, improve educational standards, strengthen services for veterans, offer property tax discounts to seniors, support public safety improvements, foster new business, enable services for the unhoused, honor and protect the Constitution.
Lawrence Fargo Experience: contractor Priorities: assist the homeless with affordable housing and mental health and addiction help, efficient budget,
City Council
Councilor at Large (4)
Judith Nelson
Winthrop Farwell Jr incumbent
Joseph Francois
Carla Darosa
Steven Clay
Matthieu Delisme
Alix Gayaud Priorities: fb
Jeffery Charnel
Jed Hresko
David Teixeira incumbent
Michael Nunes
Councilor Ward 1 (1)
Ulisses Varela
Marlon Green
Steve Lainas
Bill Keene
School Committee (1)
ward 1
Stephen Pina
Jorge Vega III
Stephen O’Malley
Ward 3
Omega Corbett
Matthew Stanton
Ana Oliver
Ward 5
Jeffrey Thompson incumbent
Keith Hayes
Ellie Teixeira
Ward 6
John Lally incumbent
Jamal Brathwaite Experience: former Trustee UMass
Lisa Crowley
Suffolk County
Chelsea
Councilor District 4 (1)
Andy Ramos
Marnie Macalpine
Tanairi Garcia incumbent
City Council
Ward 1
James Mercurio
Brian Averback
Cheryl Whittredge
School Committee
Worcester County
Mayor
Kimberly Blake
Ann Debarros
Michael Nicholson incumbent
Ward 5 Councilor
Edward Albert
Carrie Noseworthy incumbent
Suzanne Koehler
Minnesota
State House district 34B special election (Melissa Hortman’s seat):
(DEMOCRAT, Priorities: Affordable healthcare access for all, fully fund k-12 schools, invest in technological infrastructure including charging stations and medical tech, clean energy, environmental justice and preservation of the MIssissippi River).
New Hampshire
TO BE ADDED
Wisconsin
Dane County
Village Trustee:
William Landgraf (Incumbent, attempted recall following reports that he has harassed other city employees and voted to remove fluoride from the drinking water, has also been warned by the police department that some of his behavior has come close to meeting the definition of stalking),
Alicia Williams (Current engaged in a child custody case where she has been held in contempt of court, wants to consider a measure to re-add fluoride into the water and will support it if the majority of constituents approve),
Stacey Petersen (Says she will not consider adding fluoride back into the water).
Thursday September 18
Tennessee
TO BE ADDED
Saturday September 20
Delaware
TO BE ADDED
I hope this guide helps you in all your voting endeavors this week!
Remember, your vote is your voice and that voice is your superpower, but only if you use it!
Minnesotans in Melissa Hortman's district must be hyper-aware of the hypocrisy of the claims about "the left" being the more murderous party. Thank you for highlighting this election.
Thank you for doing this! Let me add that in Somerville, MA, At-Large City Council candidate Holly Simione is a member of the Commission for People with Disabilities, too.