---

ATTLEBORO - First-term City Councilor Michael Sullivan announced Wednesday he won't seek re-election.

Sullivan, who beat incumbent Jim Hanley by 59 votes for the Ward 1 slot in 2007, said cutbacks by his private sector employer have increased his workload, and put limits on his availability to serve.

"With my full-time job commitments continuing to increase as the economy is not bouncing back, I do not have the time to commit to the job of city councilor," he wrote in an e-mail to The Sun Chronicle.

Sullivan, 48, is a project manager for Dimeo Construction of Providence.

If no other candidates emerge, Sullivan's withdrawal would pave the way for Joe Lazzerini, an 18-year-old high school senior, who's been campaigning since January, to take the seat. Lazzerini recently joined the U.S. Army Reserve and is currently in boot camp at Fort Benning, Ga.

He's expected to return to the city at the beginning of September and continue campaigning.

Sullivan is chairman of the transportation and traffic committee and a special committee formed to address traffic and litter problems in the Bacon Street area.

So far, there's only one contested ward race for council, and that's in Ward 5 where incumbent Jerry Chase is facing a challenge from former Ward 5 councilor John Davis and first time candidate Duff White.

In other races, incumbents for mayor, Kevin Dumas, clerk, Betty Shockroo, treasurer, Ethel Sandbach and collector, Debora Marcoccio are all unopposed.

Potentially, there are nine candidates for the five councilor-at-large slots, incumbents, Kim Allard, Peter Blais, Brian Kirby and Walter Thibodeau and challengers Mark Cooper, Paul Diamond, Cherie Felos, Ben King and Richard Conti.

There will be at least one new at-large councilor because incumbent Bill Bowles was elected to the state Legislature and is not running.

There are six candidates for the three school board at-large seats, incumbents Robbie Wuilleumier, Frank D'Agostino and Helen Johnson and challengers Gerard Cameron Jr. and Teri Enegren.

Wesley Salvas may run for an at-large seat or the Ward 1 seat, which is also being sought by George Lukin.

Ward 4 incumbent Jacqueline Romaniecki is facing a challenge from Brenda Furtado and in Ward 5, incumbent Fran Zito is facing a challenge from David Sidman. Incumbent candidates for Wards 2, 3, and 6, Shawn Moran, Robert Hill and Michael Tyler are not opposed.

Candidates have until July 24 to take out nomination papers for any of the city's 18 elected positions.

Papers must be returned by 5 p.m. on July 28.