Voters in both the Democratic and Republican parties decided their nominees Tuesday in primary votes. Mayor Nancy Rossi blew away challenges from both City Clerk Deborah Collins and former Mayor Edward O’Brien, capturing more than 2,700 votes. Unofficial totals had the one-term incumbent topping Collins by about 1,000 votes, with O’Brien coming in third.
Meanwhile, Michelle Gregorio easily beat challenger Steven Mullins in the GOP runoff, saving the endorsement she barely won in July by the Republican Town Committee.
Both parties had contentious campaigns, which was expected in the Democratic race, but surprising to some in the Republican primary.
The candidates now try to knit together their fractured organizations and move toward the November general election. Rossi has centered her campaign on working with the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) to right the city’s financial woes.
Meanwhile, Gregorio is stressing her own professional credentials and the need for a new vision in City Hall.
When is the debate?