AUGUSTA — The next election in Augusta is expected to include several contested races.

Following a year with no contested elections at the local level, two of three races for City Council seats and two of four races for seats on the Board of Education are expected to be contested on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Two newcomers to city politics returned nomination papers by last Thursday’s deadline to run for the Ward 1 City Council seat now held by Linda Conti, who after a long run on the council is not able to seek reelection due to term limits. Robert Austin and Marcus Emerson both seek to fill the Ward 1 seat.

There are also two candidates, one an incumbent, for an at-large seat on the council. Incumbent Courtney Gary-Allen faces a challenge from newcomer Christopher Voynik.

Ward 4 Councilor Eric Lind is running uncontested.

For the Board of Education, two candidates each seek to fill two vacancies in Ward 2 and Ward 3.

Running for the Ward 2 spot are Aaron Kregenow and Susan Parks, both newcomers to city politics.

Running for the Ward 3 spot are June Maguire-Tyce and James Orr. Orr has run unsuccessfully to represent Augusta in the Maine House of Representatives.

The winner will complete the remainder of the three-year term, which expires Dec. 31, 2024.

Martha Witham, chairperson of the Board of Education, is running uncontested, as is Charles Hicks, who is planning to run for the open at-large seat on the board now held by Kimberly Martin.

In Augusta, candidates for mayor and Board of Education chair must submit the signatures of at least 200 registered city voters to have their names placed on the ballot.

Candidates for at-large seats on the City Council or Board of Education must submit at least 100 signatures, while candidates for ward seats must submit at least 50 signatures of registered voters from within their ward.

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