ATTLEBORO - Mayor Kevin Dumas will be listed first on the preliminary election ballot, and he's glad to be there.

While he believes the ballot position doesn't really make a difference, he's pleased to be first, he said.

"I don't think it will make or break an election, but it's better than being in the middle or last."

Ballot positions for the Sept. 18 preliminary election were determined by lottery Friday.

The election will trim the number of candidates in the races for mayor and city clerk from four to two each. Election commissioners Fran Hutton and Bill Crowley drew the names out of a hat in city council chambers to determine how the candidates will be listed.

Second on the ballot will be first-time mayoral candidate Daryl Hanlin who, like Dumas, said where a candidate's name appears isn't important.

Hanlin said people will vote for a candidate if they like his or her stand on the issues, regardless of ballot position.

"It's great to be on the ballot," Hanlin said. "I'm working on the issues and I'm having fun."

Third on the ballot will be Tom DeVisscher of Dunham Street and fourth will be City Councilor John Davis.

DeVisscher said ballot position didn't matter to him and Davis couldn't be reached for comment.

In the city clerk's race, former city councilor and current park commissioner Tony Viveiros got the first spot, community development director Betty Shockroo will appear in the second slot, police department principal clerk Darlene Oliveira will be third and assessor's department principal clerk Yolanda Cespedes will be fourth.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.