(This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy.)
With nomination papers having only been available for a few days, a competitive School Committee race is already shaping up for this November's municipal election.
Two residents, Brent Lewis and Eddie Rodriguez, have pulled papers to represent District 6 on the School Committee. The seat is held by Valerie Ottaviani, wife of City Council Chair Phil Ottaviani. Lewis and Rodriguez each pulled papers for the seat on May 30, the first day they were available.
Lewis, husband of state Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, D-Framingham, told the Daily News he wants to ensure Framingham Public Schools is a safe, inclusive and equitable school district.
"I'm deeply committed to Framingham Public Schools' success, both for my kids and for the kids of the wider community," Lewis said.
Lewis said the School Committee faced hard choices during the fiscal 2026 budget cycle; the proposal is for a 6% increase, but even that will contain service cutbacks. He said given the hard choices, and what's happening at the federal level, he wants to make sure students have the resources they need to be successful.
"Framingham has an incredibly diverse population in its public school system, which brings unique gifts, but as well as some unique needs, and we need to keep that lens in mind as we make our decision," Lewis said.
Lewis previously sought to get appointed to fill a vacancy on the city's Board of Library Trustees; however, the board and the City Council selected Matthew Corcoran for the seat. Lewis is an executive assistant at the Unitarian Universalist Association and has two children in Framingham Public Schools.
Rodriguez, who works in finance, posted a YouTube video explaining his reasons for running for the office.
"I'm a product of the Framingham school system and I'm very grateful and appreciative for the kind of education this community was able to provide me," Rodriguez said in the video. He explained that he attended Barbieri Elementary School and Walsh Middle School before heading to the now-closed Marian High School.
Rodriguez said he was born and raised in Framingham, and has a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old, with another child on the way, with his wife. He could not be reached for further comment.
"I'm very passionate about education and would now like to invest in and serve the community by contributing positively alongside my fellow School Committee members to the educational excellence of Framingham Public Schools," he said in the video.
According to the city clerk's office, Lewis returned his papers on June 2. Rodriguez hasn't returned papers.
City election scheduled for November; papers due in July
As of Tuesday, June 3, Valerie Ottaviani has not pulled papers to run for reelection. She did not respond to a request for comment.
Three current School Committee members — Jennifer Moshe (District 3), Adam Freudberg (District 4) and William Labarge (District 9) — have pulled papers for reelection. None has an opponent yet.
As of June 3, Kyle Shepherd is running to represent District 7 on the School Committee. That seat is currently held by Tiffanie Maskell, who has not yet pulled papers.
The Framingham School Committee is a nine-person elected body, with members representing (and living in) each of the city's nine districts.
Nomination papers for all positions are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15.
This year's city election is scheduled for Nov. 4.