By Melissa Fili
MethuenLife Writer

While the state denied Methuen’s money-saving request to skip its preliminary election, voters heading to the polls Sept. 15 will not be casting votes for the full slate of races.
Voters citywide will make their choice for mayor. On the west side of town, voters will additionally mark their choices for West District city councilors. The ballots will list only these races.
“In Methuen, you have to have a certain number of candidates (per race) to trigger a preliminary election,” explained Matt Kraunelis, Mayor Bill Manzi’s chief of staff.
If the number of candidates is more than double the number of seats available, a preliminary election is required. Three candidates are running for one mayoral seat; five are seeking two seats in the West District.
It is expected that the election will cost the city about $30,000. Fewer than 10 percent of voters are anticipated at the polls.
All Methuen polling places will be open Sept. 15 from 7 am to 7 pm. To cut costs, there was the idea of opening a limited number of polls.
“We have to open every polling place because the mayor is a citywide election,” explained Kraunelis. “We did have some suggestions, but it becomes too confusing to open only one polling place. Many of the elderly can’t make it across town to vote.”
The city filed legislation with the state back in February, before candidates had taken out papers, hoping to avoid a preliminary election.
“We did it in order to a save money,” said Kraunelis. “We knew we were facing a major local aid cut. ... This was not a political issue.”
The state Joint Committee on Election Laws rejected Methuen’s request, citing incumbent Manzi could have an unfair advantage over his two opponents without a preliminary, as the anti-Manzi vote might be split.
Below are the 2009 candidates for elected office. Following the Sept. 15 preliminary election, the municipal election is set for Nov. 3.