At-Large Councilor Annissa Essaibi George will appear at the top of Boston's preliminary ballot for mayor, making her name the first that voters will see when they make their selections on Sept. 14.
Boston's elections commission established the ballot order Friday afternoon by stuffing candidates' names into tiny envelopes, rolling them in a perforated, golden bingo cage and drawing them out one by one.
Research suggests that ballot position can influence voter decisions and that the top of the ballot can command more votes.
The Essaibi George camp responded Friday to news of their prime position on the ballot saying they are "excited" about the spot.
Essaibi George will be followed by: Richard Spagnuolo of the North End, Dorchester City Councilor Andrea Campbell, acting Mayor Kim Janey, At-Large Councilor Michelle Wu, State Rep. Jon Santiago, who withdrew from the race after the deadline for removing candidate names from the ballot, and Robert Cappucci, a former Boston police officer.
John Barros, Boston's former economic development chief, will appear last on the ballot's mayoral candidate section.
Although she is currently serving out the rest of former Mayor Marty Walsh's term, Janey will appear on the preliminary ballot as the District 7 Councilor.
Though the ballots still need to be printed and proofread, a process that will take several weeks according to the elections department, various supporters and at least one candidate began incorporating their preferred candidates' positions into social media posts.
Of At-Large City Councilor candidates, Carla Monteiro, a social worker who lives near the Dorchester-Mattapan border, will appear first, giving her the advantage in the race that will shrink a field of 17 candidates down to eight.
The order will be as follows:
Carla Monteiro
Althea Garrison
Bridget Nee-Walsh
Said Abdikarim
Ruthzee Louijeune
Kelly Bates
David Halbert
Julia Mejia
Roy Owens
Nick Vance
Michael Flaherty
Jon Spillane
James Colimon
Erin Murphy
Donnie Palmer
Alex Gray
Domingos DaRosa
Only voters in Districts 4, 6, 7 and 9 will have to select names in those races. The other districts will not have preliminary elections.
Josette Williams, a Boston Public School early education administrator, will appear first in the race to replace Campbell in the Dorchester District 4 seat, with the following ballot order:
Josette Williams
Troy A. Smith
Joel Richards
Deeqo Jibril
Jacob Urena
William Dickerson III
Brian Worrell
Evandro Carvalho
Leonard Lee
Kendra Hicks, director of the philanthropic organization Resist, will appear first in the race to fill the seat left open by the retirement of Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury Councilor Matt O'Malley in District 6, followed by two more candidates:
Kendra Hicks
Mary Tamer
Winnie Eke
Roy Owens, a perennial candidate, will appear first in the race to succeed Janey as District 7 Councilor in Roxbury. The ballot will be as follows:
Roy Owens
Angie Camacho
Joao DePina
Santiago Rivera
Lorraine Wheeler
Marisa Luse
Marisa Luse
Tania Anderson
In District 9, Eric Porter, a local landlord who is challenging Councilor Liz Breadon for the Allston-Brighton seat, will appear first in that race, followed by Breadon and the third candidate:
Eric Porter
Liz Breadon
Michael Bianchi
