Brockton Preliminary Election Narrows Field for Mayor, City Council, and School Committee Races
BROCKTON - September 16 - Voters in Brockton headed to the polls on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, for the city’s preliminary election, casting ballots to narrow the field of candidates vying for mayoral, city council, and school committee seats. The unofficial results, reported by a Brockton Community Access (BCA) live show tonight, indicate significant movement in several key races, setting the stage for the general election on November 4, 2025.
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Mayoral Race: Rodrigues and Derenoncourt Advance
The race to replace incumbent Mayor Robert F. Sullivan, who decided against seeking a fourth term, saw Moises M. Rodrigues and Jean Bradley Derenoncourt emerge as the top two vote-getters, unofficially securing their spots on the November ballot.
• Moises M. Rodrigues, a registered Democrat, received 3,090 votes. Rodrigues, a six-term councilor at-large and former interim mayor, emphasized his extensive experience in public service, including six years in the U.S. Navy and his role as executive director of the Cape Verdean Association. He advocated for strong fiscal controls, accountability, and responsibility in city and school finances, asserting that the city's $618 million budget should prioritize investment in schools, students, and teachers, alongside increased public safety patrols. Rodrigues supports purchasing the Aquaria water plant if the financials are favorable, claiming it could save the city $3 million annually. He defended his vote for the anti-camping ordinance, stating that "doing nothing is not an answer" to homelessness.
• Jean Bradley Derenoncourt, also a registered Democrat and current At-Large City Councilor, garnered 2,532 votes. Derenoncourt, a Haitian immigrant, campaigned on a platform of accountability, fairness, and strong leadership, positioning himself as a new alternative to the "establishment". He stressed prioritizing fiscal responsibility through smart, targeted investments rather than slashing budgets, and explicitly stated he would not support buying the Aquaria water plant, citing the city's financial state. He opposed punitive measures for homelessness, including the anti-camping and anti-loitering ordinances, favoring comprehensive, compassionate, and research-based solutions.
Other mayoral candidates included Luz Villar (538 votes), Eugenie Kavanagh (176 votes), Carina Mompelas (57 votes), Richard Wayne Ripley (80 votes), Richard D. Reid (366 votes), and Lawrence Patrick Fargo (108 votes).
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City Council At-Large: Eight Candidates Secure General Election Spots
In the City Council At-Large race, which will see two new faces guaranteed on the council due to incumbents running for mayor, eight candidates advanced from a field of eleven. The top eight unofficially were: Winthrop H. Farwell Jr. (i) with 2,239 votes, David C. Teixeira (i) with 3,081 votes, Carla M. Darosa with 2,582 votes, Jeffrey Charnel with 1,627 votes, Judith Nelson with 1,757 votes, Michael Nunes with 1,273 votes, Joseph Edwald Francois with 1,008 votes, and Jed Hresko with 632 votes.
• Winthrop H. Farwell Jr. (i), an incumbent, previously spoke on public safety and security at Brockton High School, traffic enforcement, and the need for more police officers.
• David C. Teixeira (i), also an incumbent, had his business affected by unhoused individuals and drug activity in downtown Brockton.
• Carla M. Darosa brings experience from the Department of Public Health and previous roles with Mayor Carpenter and the Council on Aging.
• Jeffrey Charnel, the chairman of the License Commission, emphasized "Brockton focused on results" and making business opportunities accessible, particularly for people of color.
• Judith Nelson is a youth mentor, public health consultant, real estate investor, and teaches financial literacy.
• Jed Hresko, a downtown resident and accountant, is known for extensively using the "See Click Fix" system to report city issues and advocates for traffic enforcement, speed bumps, and addressing drug dealers among the homeless.
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Ward City Council Races
Three ward city council races held preliminary elections: Wards 1, 5, and 6.
• Ward 1 City Council: Ulisses Manuel Varela (425 votes) and Marlon D. Green (337 votes) advanced. Varela has dedicated his life to public service, working at Plymouth Superior Court and focusing on moving the city forward with inclusion. Green, a senior research manager at Boston Children's Hospital and clergy member, emphasized serving people and bringing "people-first centered leadership".
• Ward 5 City Council: Incumbent Jeffrey A. Thompson (i) (481 votes) and Ellie V. Teixeira (378 votes) will move to the general election. Teixeira, a social worker, has been vocal against the anti-camping and anti-loitering ordinances, calling them "useless from day one".
• Ward 6 City Council: Incumbent John Fitzgerald Lally (i) (537 votes) and Lisa E. Crowley (197 votes) secured their places. Lally, who was first elected at 18, has focused on infrastructure, public safety, and expanding police and fire departments. Crowley has been involved in fighting local environmental issues and seeks transparency and economic development for small businesses.
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School Committee Races
Only two School Committee races required preliminary elections: Wards 1 and 3.
• Ward 1 School Committee: Stephen V. Pina (455 votes) and incumbent Jorge Luis Vega III (i) (365 votes) advanced. Pina calls for a more aggressive approach to budget oversight, advocating for "guard rails" and redirecting funds from consultants to "safety and academics". Vega, an educator and school administrator, emphasized the district's systematic progress through audit recommendations and his commitment to vocational tracks, AI curriculum, and restoring libraries.
• Ward 3 School Committee: Matthew Stanton (507 votes) and incumbent Ana Carreiro Oliver (i) (430 votes) will proceed. Stanton highlights his background in financial oversight and advocates for a "trust but verify" approach to the budget. Oliver, a registered nurse, has been a vocal proponent of accountability and mental health initiatives within the schools, sponsoring a subcommittee on mental health and well-being.
These unofficial results will be certified by election officials in the coming days, solidifying the contenders who will continue campaigning for the November 4th general election.
Full election results show available via Brockton Community Access.