"I've always had a feeling that local government is the sector of government that has the most effect on the daily lives of its citizens," said Vizard, a lifetime resident who will graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Boston with a master's in public affairs June 1.
Tuesday was the first day candidates for City Council, School Committee and mayor were able to pull papers for the November election. City Clerk Russ Malone said all candidates must collect signatures and turn in paperwork by June 28.
Vizard is a former legislative aide to City Councilor at large and state Rep. Thomas M. Stanley, D-Waltham. He is one of two newcomers to announce plans to run for the council. The other is William Fowler, 57, who unsuccessfully ran for an at-large seat two years ago.
"The zoning and development is out of control," said Fowler, a 30-year veteran of the Somerville Fire Department. Fowler moved to Waltham five years ago with his wife.
The only incumbent at-large candidate to pull papers so far is Sarafina "Sally" Collura. There are six at-large seats. Of the nine incumbent ward councilors, five have pulled papers to run again this year and no challengers have stepped up as of yet. Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan was the first person at Malone's door Tuesday morning.
"I'm always excited about the opportunity to run again," said Logan, who has been the Ward 9 councilor for 18 years. "I always think, 'Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?' "
Ward 2 Councilor Edmund P. Tarallo also grabbed the sign-up sheet early on Tuesday. Tarallo started as an at-large councilor in 1989 and took over Ward 2 in 2000. He previously served as president of the City Council for two years.
"There are still things I think we need to accomplish for the rest of this year and hopefully for the next two years as well," said Tarallo, chairman of the Committee on Ordinances and Rules.
Ward 5 Councilor Gary Marchese and Ward 7 Councilor Joseph Giordano Jr., were also on the list. Council President Thomas J. Curtin signed up to continue representing Ward 4.
While there is not necessarily a rush, Logan found it strange that Ward 6 Councilor Kenneth B. Doucette had not pulled his papers yet.
"He (Doucette) is usually one of the first ones," said Logan.
Yesterday afternoon Doucette confirmed reports that he has been thinking of running for mayor.
"I am in the final days of making my decision on that, I'll either be running for mayor or councilor of Ward 6," said Doucette, who has been a ward councilor for seven and a half years. "A lot of people have come up to me and asked me to run for mayor and I am looking into that."
As of yesterday, Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy had no challengers on the sign-up sheet. McCarthy took office in January 2004.
All three incumbents up for re-election on the School Committee - Susan Burstein, Harold Walker, and Stephen Rando Jr. - have pulled their nomination papers. The six members of the committee have staggered terms, with three seats opening up every two years. Each member is elected for a four-year term.
"The theory behind that is you would never have a whole brand-new School Committee," said Margaret Donnelly, the only non-incumbent who has pulled papers for this election.
Donnelly lost her seat on School Committee after 12 years when she came in fourth in the last election.
"When I first ran I ran because I was teaching at the time and Education Reform came in," said Donnelly, a 33-year Waltham resident. "It was very exciting to be a part of that."
In each race, the final number of candidates will determine whether there will be a primary election, Malone said. The standard, he said, is one more than double the number of available seats. For example, there are six councilor at-large seats and a primary election will only be held if 13 or more candidates come forward.
Any primary elections will be held Sept. 18 with the final election in November, Malone said.
Nicole Haley can be reached at nhaley@cnc.com or 781-398-8004.
