If you’ve found this year’s Springfield mayor’s race to be a little dull thus far, well, that’s about to change.
Fearless (some would say fearsome—and mean it as a compliment) School Committee member Antonette Pepe will officially enter the race on Tuesday, April 26, with a kick-off event at the John Boyle O’Reilly Club, at 33 Progress Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m.
Pepe will be the third major candidate in the race, along with incumbent Mayor Domenic Sarno and City Council President Jose Tosado. (I throw in the “major” as a hedge; as Pete Goonan recently reported in the Republican, two other, lesser-know candidates, Jeffery P. Donnelly and Michael Jones, have also taken out nomination papers.)
Candidates have until late July to submit certified signatures from at least 500 voters to get on the ballot. Should the field stay as crowded as it is now, a September preliminary election will narrow the choices down to two final candidates for the November ballot.
