Blake to challenge Nicholson in Gardner’s Nov. 4 mayoral election

GARDNER — Preliminary election results from last night in Gardner have set the stage for a November showdown in the mayoral race.

Incumbent Michael Nicholson led the field with 1,114 votes (about 57.2%) in the preliminary, while Kimberly Blake came in second with 751 votes (about 38.6%) out of 1,943 ballots cast, according to the City of Gardner’s unofficial election results. Challenger Ann DeBarros, who got 69 votes, was eliminated.

Kimberly Blake

Blake, a Republican and Athol native now living in Gardner, is running her second campaign for mayor. A Gardner resident and professional in marketing and event planning, Blake says she’s better prepared this time after building deeper ties with the community. She launched a local food pantry called The Giving Greenhouse and is campaigning on improving transparency, cutting wasteful spending, revitalizing downtown, and fixing crumbling infrastructure. “These residents are my people,” she told The Gardner News. Later adding, “I’m running for them specifically because I want them to be able to help me decide what’s best for their city.”

Incumbent Mayor Michael Nicholson

Mayor Michael Nicholson has served as Gardner’s mayor since 2020, when he was elected in a special election following the resignation of former Mayor Mark Hawke. A lifelong Gardner resident and graduate of Gardner High School, Nicholson holds degrees in political science, public policy, and law. Before becoming mayor, he worked as Rutland’s town administrator and as executive aide to Gardner’s mayor. During his time in office, Nicholson has focused on securing grant funding, improving city infrastructure, revitalizing the downtown area, and overseeing new school construction projects.

What’s next?

These results mean Nicholson and Blake will be the two candidates on the ballot for the general election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.