5 run for mayor in New Bedford preliminary election

NEW BEDFORD, Mass.—Five candidates are on the ballot in Tuesday’s preliminary election for mayor in New Bedford, but city officials said there seems to be little interest in the race.

“I’m praying for at least 15-20 percent turnout,“ city election commissioner Maria Tomasia said.

Tomasia said there hasn’t been much activity from the candidates leading up to the preliminary election.

“Nobody has had fundraisers. Nobody’s really spent much money on anything,“ she said.

Only two of the five candidates made themselves available to NBC 10 on Monday, the day before the election.

Fernando Coelho, 34, is making his second try for the office.  He said he’d freeze taxes for senior citizens.

The recession has forced the city to lay off workers and make other cutbacks. But incumbent Mayor Scott Lang said he hopes voters will return him to office for another two-year term.

“I think that the city of New Bedford is doing very well. I would hope that the people would have confidence in what I’ve been trying to do and would support me tomorrow at the polls,“ Lang said.

The other three candidates are restaurant manager Sean Burke, political newcomer Catherine Gould, and perennial candidate E. Michael Janson.

The top two finishers will move on to the final election in November.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.