By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the city’s local political landscape was both shaken and stirred, as some new faces entered the City Council and School Committee arenas, and a veteran councilor announced he will take on the city’s five-term mayor.

All aspiring politicians had until Wednesday’s deadline to file declarations of candidacy. To get on the ballot, they must obtain nomination papers from the Board of Canvassers on Tuesday and return them with the required number of certified signatures by July 11.
The biggest surprise surrounds the upcoming mayoral race, where incumbent James E. Doyle, seeking his sixth term as the city’s mayor, faces four challengers, including Councilor at Large Donald R. Grebien.
Doyle, 69, of 322 Pullen Ave., received the endorsement from the city’s Democratic City Committee, while Grebien, 40, of 101 Vine St., also a registered Democrat, announced plans to run as an Independent.
Also announcing their intent to challenge Doyle are Rick L. Gibson, 46, of 248 Central Ave., a Democrat; Dougie A. Tunstall Jr., 40, of 40 1/2 Bullock St., a Republican; and Kenneth M. Bowdish, 38, of 231 Benjamin St., running as an Independent on the “Time for a Change” ticket.
Doyle, mayor since 1998, said he welcomes the chance to debate the issues and plans to actively campaign. He acknowledged that campaigning as an incumbent is a double-edged sword, as he does not get a “free ride” when it comes to answering for his record but, on the positive side, can explain all that he has accomplished in his 11 years at the helm.
Grebien, who is in his 11th year on the City Council, said he felt strongly that this was the time to make a move for the mayor’s seat. He said he will be campaigning on a platform of change, especially in the areas of fiscal constraint and economic development, and chose to run as an independent to have more time to reach voters before the November general election.
For Council At Large, the Democratic contenders include longtime council member Thomas E. Hodge, of 53 Wilton Ave., who is seeking re-election. Other Democrats declaring their candidacy for two available seats are former School Committee Chairman John S. Baxter Jr., of 96 Brewster St.; former District 3 Councilor Albert J. Vitali Jr., of 85 Pequot Road; Lorenzo C. Tetreault, of 95 Second St.; and Raymond J. Spooner Jr., of 64 Benjamin St.
Additionally seeking Council At Large are Michael W. Newman, of 218 Baxter St., who is running as an independent, and Joel M. Tirrell, of 249 Taft St., a Republican.
Of the City Council, those candidates seeking re-election include David P. Moran, of 127 Revere St. in District 1; Paul J. Wildenhain, of 31 Hanover St., in District 2; Henry S. Kinch, of 58 Wilton St., in District 3; John J. Barry III, of 118 Division St., in District 4; Mary E. Bray, of 7 Cooper St., in District 5; and James F. Chadwick Jr., of 51 Lucas St., apt. 3, Pawtucket, in District 6. All are Democrats.
Bray will face a challenge from Jean Philippe Barros, of 146 Lafayette St., an independent, while Chadwick is being challenged for his seat by George Patrick Hovarth, of 74 Varnum Ave., also an independent.
For the district-wide School Committee seats, Democratic incumbents seeking re-election include James T. Chellel Jr., of 45 Grosvenor Ave.; Amy-Lynn Breault Zolt, of 30 Potter St.; Joanne M. Bonollo, of 407 Grand Ave.; Nicole Ann Nordquist, of 155 Mount Vernon Blvd.; and David A. Coughlin Jr., of 9 Armistice Blvd.
Some new faces declaring their intention for the school board include Joseph C. Knight, of 104 Lyman St.; Raymond William Noonan, of 405 Grotto Ave.; Carlos E. Tobon, of 30 Bloomingdale Ave., Matthew F. Gunnip, of 90 Summit St., apt. 11; Patricia R. Murray, of 89 Fiume St., Lori-Ann Gagne of 55 Windsor Road; and Joseph M. Lima, of 70 Seneca Ave. All are Democrats.
Longtime School Committee member and current chairman Gordon M. Gould announced he would not be seeking re-election due to personal reasons.
At a meeting held at the China Inn on Wednesday night, the Democratic City Committee endorsed Doyle as mayor; Hodge, Baxter and Tetreault for Council At Large;  and Moran, Wildenhain, Kinch, Barry, Bray and Chadwick as district councilors.
For the school board, the Democratic City Committee endorsed Chellel, Knight, Nordquist, Bonollo, Coughlin, Gunnip and Noonan.