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The 2015 Springfield City Election will feature races for City Council and mayor, and has drawn early interest from potential candidates

(File photo / The Republican)

SPRINGFIELD — The 2015 city election is still 10 months down the road, but Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola said this week she is already hearing the early rumblings of a lively campaign season.

Oyola said she began hearing from potential candidates as early as July, and knows that two residents recently formed political committees to run for the City Council.

"Local elections are always lively especially given the 13 City Council seats to be filled and a mayoral seat that only comes up every four years," Oyola said.

A preliminary election will occur on Sept. 15, either citywide or in specific wards, if there are more than two candidates per elected seat. The preliminary would reduce the candidates for the general election, Nov. 3.

“Given the fact that none of the current elected officials have voiced intentions of not running, and the early interest by some potential candidates, there will obviously be several races that may spur a preliminary,” Oyola said.

Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola

The residents who have formed political committees are Jesse L. Lederman, 19, of 22 Clarendon St., and Kim Rivera, 49, of 75 Pomona St., as planned candidates for City Council.

Lederman plans to formally announce his candidacy in February for an at-large seat on the council, and Rivera said she plans to run for the Ward 6 seat on the council. Ward 6 Councilor Kenneth Shea has stated he will run for re-election.

Lederman and Rivera are first-time candidates, but have been active in other campaigns in the past.

“it does not surprise me that these two specific individuals have already formed committees,” Oyola said. “They both have done substantial campaign work for both local and state candidates and are very familiar with the work entailed in running a campaign.”

Nomination papers will not be available for candidates until March 31. The papers will be available at the Election Office at City Hall.

The fall ballot features the mayoral race for a four-year term, and races for all eight ward seats on the council and all five at-large seats on the council.

School Committee members are currently in the midst of four-year terms, and thus their seats will not be up for election until 2017.

Oyola said she encourages candidates “to become active early and reach out to potential voters.”

“Conversely, I encourage voters to educate themselves on the choices,” Oyola said.