GREENFIELD — Though the deadline to pull nomination papers for November’s biennial city election is months away, five candidates have already thrown their hats into the ring for City Council.

Former Board of Health member Ahmad Esfahani and At-Large City Councilor Sara Brown took out papers to run for the two vacant at-large city councilor seats. Brown was appointed to complete the unexpired term of former At-Large Councilor Penny Ricketts following Ricketts’ resignation in August, and Brown will be running in the 2025 election to retain her seat.

Resident Eric Hallowell will run for Precinct 9 city councilor, the seat currently held by Derek Helie. Historical Commission member Sarah Bolduc is seeking the Precinct 7 seat currently held by William “Wid” Perry, and Patricia Williams has taken out nomination papers to run for Precinct 6, which is currently vacant following the resignation of Sheila Gilmour earlier this month.

All City Council seats carry a four-year term. The ballot will also include four School Committee seats (three positions with four-year terms and one position with a two-year term), two positions as assessor with four-year terms, three seats as trustees of the A.K. Warner Trust Fund with two-year terms, one position as an elector under the will of Oliver Smith with a two-year term, and three positions as trustees of the Jennie L. Bascom Education Fund with two-year terms.

While at-large city councilor seats, School Committee seats and assessor seats each require 100 signatures for nomination, the Precinct 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 council seats all require 50 signatures for nomination, per the city charter. The trustee and elector positions require 25 signatures.

Greenfield residents who are interested in running for any of the seven City Council, four School Committee, or seven elector and trustee seats that will be on the ballot for November’s election have until July 22, at 5 p.m. to turn in their nomination papers at the City Clerk’s Office.

“Civic engagement is essential to the health of our community,” Mayor’s Office Communications Director Matthew Conway said. “We encourage anyone interested in serving the city to reach out to the clerk’s office.”

Per the city charter, if the number of candidates vying for an elected position more than doubles the number of seats available for that position before July, it will trigger a preliminary election in September to narrow the field to two candidates.

“It’s your local election — you’re electing people from your community to act on your behalf in that community, so you’re going out and choosing who’s going to represent you,” City Clerk Kathy Scott said, encouraging residents to vote or run for public office. “If there’s a seat on the ballot in your precinct, or a councilor-at-large position, or School Committee seat, these are the people that are going to let your voice be heard on a local level.”

Scott added that the city “could always use” more poll workers in the fall and encouraged all interested residents to reach out to her office.

“These offices are a lot of work, and [elected officials] handle it wonderfully,” Scott said. “Making your voice be heard during a local election is really important. So is running for your local office, so that you have a direct effect on what your community is doing. … This is local. This affects us directly.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.