PEABODY — With Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt running unopposed for a fourth term, the action in Tuesday’s election is further down the ballot.
Two ward councilors are facing challenges, while a new councilor is a lock in Ward 6.
In the at-large race, at least two new faces will join the council; incumbents Tom Walsh and Michael Garabedian are not seeking reelection.
Candidates say the biggest issues facing the city include commercial development, taxes, and infrastructure.
In 2015, Ward 4 Councilor Edward Charest won by a razor-thin margin over Jarrod Hochman. This year, Charest is being challenged by Bukia “Kia” Chalvire, an executive assistant at the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants.
Ward 5 Councilor and council president Joel Saslaw is being challenged by James Jeffery.
Barry Sinewitz, the longtime Ward 6 Councilor, is not seeking reelection. His seat will be filled by Mark O’Neill, an assistant vice president with Lexington Insurance, or Michael Geomelos, co-owner of Travel Leather in Peabody.
In addition to the larger citywide issues, the major issues in Ward 6 include relations with Aggregate Industries and the proposed Birchwood residential development project.
In the at-large race, eight candidates are battling for five seats. Incumbents Anne Manning-Martin, David Gravel, and Thomas Gould are joined on the ballot by Ryan Melville, Thomas Rossignoll, Peter Bakula, Stephen Collins, and Russell Donovan.
Also on the ballot are contested races for School Committee, Library Trustee, and the Municipal Light Commission.
Five candidates, including two incumbents, are seeking three seats on the School Committee.
Incumbents Beverley Ann Griffin Dunne and Jarrod Hochman are joined on the ballot by Linda Quadros Lopez, Laurence Aiello, and Andrew Arnotis.
Incumbent Light Commissioners Thomas D’Amato and William Aylward face Raymond Melvin and Laurence Olcott.
Kate O’Brien, Thomas Pappas, Francis Gallugi, Christopher Diantgikis, and Sandra Fecteau are running for four, six-year terms as trustees of the Peabody Institute Library. Dianne Gagnon Caputo is running unopposed for a two-year term as a library trustee.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.
City Clerk Tim Spanos said he expects turnout to be similar to the 2015 municipal election, or under 20 percent.
