Politics & Government

Donovan Enters Peabody Mayor's Race

Long time political watchdog Russell Donovan has pulled papers to make another run for the corner office, turning it into a three-way race for Mayor.

A long time voice in city politics, Russell Donovan has pulled nomination papers for the corner office, making it a three-way race for the next mayor of Peabody between Ted Bettencourt, Sean Fitzgerald and Donovan.

The deadline to file nomination papers is Aug. 2, and if all three candidates file that means a primary election on Sept. 20. Donovan pulled papers on July 21.

The last time there was a primary election for the mayor’s race was in 2005 when Donovan’s son, Sean, entered the race against Mayor Michael Bonfanti (who is stepping down after this year) and former state Rep. John Slattery.

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Donovan, 62, made a bid for mayor two years ago against Bonfanti, but only grabbed 25 percent of the vote. He has run multiple times for the City Council before that, both for the Ward 1 seat and in the At-Large race.


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