ELECTION 2025: Candidates set for municipal election, Kit Collins not running
The stage is all but set for the upcoming municipal election in November, with some surprises in the mix as the deadline for turning in nomination papers passed this Tuesday night.
The stage is all but set for the upcoming municipal election in November, with some surprises in the mix as the deadline for turning in nomination papers passed this Tuesday night.
Current Councilor Kit Collins will not be running, as she did not turn in her paperwork. Former councilor and candidate for mayor Rick Caraviello has turned in papers for another shot at a City Council seat.
Gotta Know Medford was unable to reach either Collins or Caraviello for comment.
Although candidates have turned in paperwork, they now have until Aug. 14 to withdraw their names from contention. On Aug. 15, the drawing for ballot position will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Election Commission Office in City Hall.
City Councilor Kit Collins, left, did not return nomination papers for the municipal election while former councilor and mayoral candidate Rick Caraviello is running for a seat once again. FILE PHOTOS/GOTTA KNOW MEDFORD
The city is also looking at a preliminary run-off with City Council due to the number of candidates running for seats: 17 in all. A preliminary is triggered when the number of candidates is multiplied by 2 plus one, or a total of 15.
The city has a scheduled date of Sept. 16 for a preliminary election just for the City Council race.
The threshold for a School Committee preliminary has not been reached, with the total number of candidates this year at nine. For a preliminary that number would have had to reach 13.
Although the mayor is chair of the School Committee, that position does not count towards the number of reaching a preliminary. Candidates for the School Committee will move forward to the general election to be held Nov. 4.
Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn is running unopposed.
Job benefits
So what are the benefits of running for elected office in Medford? Plenty.
Elected officials receive a salary, can apply for insurance through the state, and can also receive a pension.
According to the fiscal year 2026 budget, city councilors were budgeted to receive $151,234 for a salary. That’s split five ways for a total of $30,246.80 each.
The council vice president receives $31,565 while the council president receives $33,533.
The School Committee receives the same benefits. According to the fiscal year 2026 budget, each member of the committee receives $22,105.60 while the secretary receives $23,750, the vice chair, $23,200 and the chair, $24,300.
The mayor’s salary is $140,035.
Each position received a raise from fiscal year 2025. The FY26 budget can be found on the city’s website or by clicking here.
Who’s running?
The question of who’s running for what this election season has some wondering what changes new faces to the city’s elected boards will bring.
The following are running for City Council (NOTE: *** Denotes incumbent):
Justin Tseng ***
Matt Leming ***
Paul J. Donato Jr.
Emily K. Lazzaro ***
Page Buldini
Nicholas G. Giurleo
Liz Mullane
George A. Scarpelli ***
Isaac B. “Zac” Bears ***
Anna Callahan ***
Trish Schiapelli
Nate Meritt
Miranda Briseno
Melanie Tringali
Milva McDonald
Rick Caraviello
The following are running for School Committee (NOTE: *** Denotes incumbent):
John L. Intoppa ***
Erika Reinfeld ***
Aaron J. Olapade ***
Jessica Eisenman Parks
Michael A. Mastrobuoni
Paul Ruseau ***
Jenny R. Graham ***
Nicole Branley ***
Lisa Kingsley
What about the charter?
The city of Medford has been working towards revising its charter for several years, with a final draft of a home rule petition approved by the city earlier this year and sent to the State House.
That petition has not been approved as of yet. However, city officials say they are hoping it will be finalized by the Legislature sooner rather than later in order to appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Should the charter be approved by residents in November, changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. But that doesn’t mean anything will change in terms of the 2025 election.
Even though Medford will be operating under a new charter, it won’t be until the municipal election of 2027 that additional councilors will be elected and the mayor will become just another member of the School Committee.
Those members would then be sworn into office on Jan. 1, 2028 under the new charter.
