Some candidates dash to submit signatures
Gareth R. Saunders, a self-described ''regular-guy" candidate for mayor, was out in the rain and wind yesterday, entreating shoppers at a South Bay grocery store to endorse his bid for office. It was a frantic pursuit. Minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline to submit qualifying signatures to the Election Department, he sat on a bench in the office, damp overcoat beside him, hurriedly signing the pages of names he had collected. He needed 3,000 to run. He estimates he got 3,300.
''I think it's close," he said. ''I believe I made it, and I know it's close, but I'm still excited, and I campaigned hard, and I believe I'll be on the ballot."
Saunders and several other candidates hurried to submit signatures yesterday.
Not everybody cut it quite so close. Mayor Thomas M. Menino submitted about 22,000.
Another rival for the office, Councilor at Large Maura A. Hennigan, submitted 6,600. In all, 39 candidates appeared to qualify to run for city office, although the signatures have yet to be validated by election officials.
Five minutes before the deadline, Hennigan submitted her last papers to the Election Department. She warmly greeted Saunders with a peck on the cheek. She had turned in about 5,000 signatures Monday, and her supporters collected more yesterday, Hennigan said.
''I am absolutely positive we are on the ballot, but it's never official until Mr. Donovan tells you it is," she said, referring to John Donovan, head assistant registrar of voters.
The Election Department has until June 28 to complete certification.
Of the 18 City Council candidates who signed up to run for the four at-large seats, 10 challengers and the three incumbents appear to have collected enough signatures so far. The remaining five candidates also appear to have collected more than the 500 signatures required, election officials said. If all 18 qualify, the at-large race could turn out to be the biggest field since 1993.
Most of the district councilors face one or more challengers, except for Robert Consalvo of Hyde Park and Chuck Turner of Roxbury.
Two district councilors could face multiple challengers. If all of the following candidates qualify for the ballot, Councilor Jerry McDermott of Allston-Brighton would run against Daniel Kontoff and Paul Creighton Jr. Councilor Charles C. Yancey, who represents parts of Mattapan and Dorchester, would also have two challengers, Jaha Hughes and J.R. Rucker.
Two of the challengers for the mayor's seat did not qualify for the race because they did not collect enough signatures in the three-week filling period. They said it was difficult to amass 3,000 signatures in that time frame.
''That made a big impact," said Rosemary Hanney, wife of John Hanney, who did not qualify. ''We have to work for a living. Unfortunately, we do our 40 hours, if not more, and try to get the signatures."
Margaret Jane Trowe also did not make the ballot.
''It's only three weeks," she said. ''The mayor uses city workers, but if you're a small movement, it's very difficult."
Madison Park can be reached at mpark@globe.com. 
