Mayoral Preliminaries Today In 9 Mass. Cities

Voters in several Massachusetts cities are heading to the polls to whittle down the number of candidates running for mayor.

In Lawrence, Mayor William Lantigua faces five challengers in Tuesday's preliminary election, with the two top-vote getters advancing to the general election in November.

Lantigua's first term as mayor has been marked by several controversies, including allegations in a recent lawsuit from Attorney General Martha Coakley that he violated campaign finance laws.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, the state's youngest mayor at age 24, has four challengers in his bid for a second term.

Newton Mayor Setti Warren, who briefly ran for the U.S. Senate seat eventually won by Elizabeth Warren, squares off against three other candidates.

Mayoral votes are also scheduled Tuesday in Amesbury, Brockton, Everett, Lynn, Newburyport and Salem.