Marlborough committee recommends home rule petition over Ward 7 special election

MARLBOROUGH -- April 23, 2025, Marlborough committee rejects summer special election to fill Ward 7 seat. The Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee voted 3-0 on April 23 to recommend a home rule petition allowing the City Council to appoint the winner of November's regular municipal election to immediately fill the seat left vacant by the death of Councilor Donald Landers Sr., rather than run a special election in July or August. City Clerk Stephen Kerrigan estimated each election round at roughly $5,000 and warned that overlapping calendars would create voter confusion. City Solicitor Jason Grossfield said the charter otherwise requires the council to "forthwith order an election." Councilor Sean Fricillo said he worried an interim appointee would gain "an incumbency advantage" heading into November. The full City Council takes up the recommendation April 28.