As Attleboro City Election Deadline Looms, More Candidates Pull Nomination Papers

With only a few days left to return nomination papers to the Attleboro Elections Office, the most interesting race may be the only race that still doesn't have an official candidate.

As of Friday afternoon, nobody had been certified for the Ward 1 School Committee seat. However, four have pulled papers - including two this past week.

James Connolly and Dianne Pickett both pulled papers on July 24, leaving themselves less than a week to return them (candidates must return nomination papers by Tuesday at 5 p.m.). Shawn Moran pulled papers for the seat in April and Pamela McGovern pulled papers in June.

UPDATE: Dianne Pickett returned papers late Friday afternoon and was officially certified to run for the Ward 1 School Committee seat.

Another surprise came this week when Roberta Wuilleumier pulled papers for one of three At-Large seats on the school committee. Should she return her papers by Tuesday, the At-Large school committee election will become a contested race. So far, David Murphy, Jim Stors and Barbara Craw have been certified.

Other candidates returned papers this week, officially throwing their hats in the ring. Ronald Churchill and Stephen Kane returned papers to contest for one of five At-Large city council seats. They join James Dilisio, Richard Conti, Peter Blais, Brian Kirby and Heather Porreca.

Benjamin Dowling was certified to challenge City Council President Frank Cook in Ward 3.

Additionally, Laura Dolan was certified to challenge long-time Ward 5 school committee member Frances Zito.

Below is a full list of certified candidates as of Friday afternoon:

Mayor: Kevin Dumas
City Clerk: Betty Shockroo
City Collector: Deb Marcoccio
City Treasurer: Ethel Sandbach
City Council At Large: James Dilisio, Richard Conti, Peter Blais, Brian Kirby, Heather Porreca, Ronald Churchill, Stephen Kane
Ward 1 City Council: Walter Thibodeau
Ward 2 City Council: Mark Cooper, Rick Correia
Ward 3 City Council: Benjamin Dowling, Frank Cook
Ward 4 City Council: Jonathan Weydt
Ward 5 City Council: Jeremy Denlea
Ward 6 City Council: Shannon Heagney

School Committee At Large: David Murphy, Jim Stors, Barbara Craw
Ward 1 School Committee: Dianne Pickett
Ward 2 School Committee: William Larson
Ward 3 School Committee: Jessica Bessell, Stephen Withers Jr.
Ward 4 School Committee: Brenda Furtado, Lori Scales
Ward 5 School Committee: Laura Dolan, Fran Zito
Ward 6 School Committee: Michael Tyler, David Blessinger