Dillon, DePrizio, Elworthy, Sheehan win SC contests

THE WINNERS OF the Town Election on Tuesday were, from left, Library Trustee Darlene Kumar (two-year term), Select Board member Alexis Leahy, School Committee member Kristen Grieco Elworthy (one-year term), Library Trustee Anne Malenfant (three-year term), School Committee Chair Kate DePrizio (three-year term), Library Trustee Joe Gallagher (three-year term), School Committee member Jenny Sheehan (one-year term) and School Committee member Jim Dillon (three-year term). (Dan Tomasello Photo)

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Seven women including four in contested races were either elected or re-elected to office during the Town Election on Tuesday.

Finance Committee member Alexis Leahy became the third woman elected to the Select Board after defeating Chair Joe Connell. According to the unofficial results released by Town Clerk Amanda Haggstrom, Leahy defeated Connell 1,044 votes to 989 votes.

“I want to thank you all,” said Leahy after being sworn in during the meeting. “I look forward to working with you.”

Leahy is the third woman elected to the Select Board in the town’s history. Former Selectwoman Kathleen Caron served on the board in the early 1990s and former Selectwoman Darlene Drutman served on the board in the mid-2000s.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have been elected to serve on the Lynnfield Select Board,” Leahy wrote on her campaign’s Facebook page on Wednesday morning. “I am truly grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me. The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind to say the least, feeling so much support from our community, and culminating with the honor of being sworn in last evening. It was an overwhelming experience, and I was at a loss for words, but I have had a moment to reflect on the past few months and wanted to share my sentiments. First and foremost, thank you. I am excited to work tirelessly on behalf of our community to address the issues that matter most to you with a focus on transparency.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported this campaign, whether it was through volunteering your time, writing a letter of support, holding or posting a sign on your lawns or casting your vote,” Leahy continued. “Your belief in me fuels my determination to make impactful, positive contributions to Lynnfield. I want to thank the current Select Board, Town Clerk and Town Administrator for all their work and commitment to our community, and for welcoming me and all of the newly elected candidates so enthusiastically.  I want to thank Joe Connell for his service to Lynnfield and for all his leadership, accomplishments and contributions over the last three years.

“I would like to congratulate all the newly-elected officials: Kristen Grieco Elworthy, Darlene Samikkannu Kumar, Joe Gallagher, Jenny Sheehan, Kate DePrizio, Jim Dillon, Anne Malenfant,” Leahy continued.  “It was a true honor to stand together last evening, and to see the diverse representation of backgrounds and experience, united to provide a voice for all in our community. I also want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support and dedication throughout this journey.  Special thanks to Sarah Kelley for being so generous with her time and expertise and Bill Leahy for your patience and encouragement. We did it! I am committed to being an accessible and responsive representative for all residents of Lynnfield. Together, let’s build a brighter future for our town. I am here to listen, collaborate and work tirelessly on your behalf. Thank you again for this incredible opportunity. Let’s get to work!”

After Leahy was sworn in, the Select Board reorganized. Dick Dalton was elected chair. Phil Crawford was elected vice chair and Leahy was elected clerk.

“Congratulations Alexis,” said Dalton. “I look forward to working with you this coming year. I want to congratulate all of the individuals who were elected this evening. I also want to congratulate the individuals who didn’t because we should recognize them for the time they took and the commitment they made to the town. Kudos to them as well. We know that in the town government model, volunteerism is the very foundation of this form of government. We need people who will step up and fill the various positions.”

Crawford agreed.

“I want to congratulate Alexis and all of the winners tonight,” said Crawford. “It was a big race this year. I do want to thank Joe Connell for the wonderful job he did as chair this year and his three years on the board. I appreciate all of the work he has done.”

School Committee member Jim Dillon and School Committee Chair Kate DePrizio were each elected to three-year terms on Tuesday. Dillon finished first in the race with 1,210 votes. DePrizio was re-elected to a second term after finishing second with 1,112 votes. Planning Board Chair Brian Charville was third overall with 1,007 votes.

“Kim Baker Donahue and Brian Charville, thank you for running and caring so much about our schools,” said Dillon in a statement sent to the Villager. “Kristen Elworthy, Jenny Sheehan and Kate DePrizio, congratulations. Meeting the next generation of leaders in town has given me a feeling of optimism. They are all thoughtful, driven, talented people who really care about our schools and town. The future looks bright. Now let’s go to work.”

DePrizio agreed.

“Thank you, Lynnfielders! I am humbled by your support and enthusiasm,” DePrizio wrote on her Facebook page. “I am eager to continue working for the betterment of all students, staff and the LPS community. Thank you to my amazing friends for their dedication and tireless support! I also must thank my husband, Mike, and my four best campaigners — Sophie, Sadie, Will, and Charlie for their love and support. A heartfelt congratulations to my friends, Brian Charville and Kim Baker Donahue and their families, for running very competitive campaigns. Congratulations to Jim Dillon, Kristen Grieco Elworthy, Jenny Sheehan and their families on their win.”

Former Finance Committee/Public Safety Building Committee member Kristen Grieco Elworthy and Russet Lane resident Jenny Sheehan were elected to one-year terms on the School Committee. Elworthy topped the ticket with 1,252 votes. Sheehan finished second with 1,207 votes. Winchester Drive resident Kimberly Baker Donahue was third overall with 775 votes.

“Thank you to the town of Lynnfield for electing me as one of your new School Committee members,” Elworthy wrote on her campaign’s Facebook page. “Congratulations to Jenny Sheehan, Jim Dillon and Kate DePrizio, who were also elected and re-elected. Looking forward to working with you all! And congratulations as well to Brian Charville and Kim Baker Donahue, who played a tremendous part in having civil and productive conversations the last few months, and who each earned incredibly high vote totals for a Town Election, demonstrating how engaged and active our town currently is in our local boards and what excellent candidates they are. It truly felt like there were so many good choices this year. It was really amazing to stand outside for more than 12 hours yesterday and talk to people as they walked in to cast their votes. You could feel the excitement about what happens next and I’m looking forward to getting to work.”

Sheehan echoed Elworthy’s sentiment.

“It’s official! I’ve been sworn in as your newest School Committee member alongside Kristen Elworthy and returning members Kate DePrizio and Jim Dillion,” Sheehan wrote on her Facebook page.

Cultural Council Chair Darlene Kumar won the race for a two-year term on the Board of Library Trustees after defeating incumbent Library Trustee Russell Boekenkroeger 997 votes to 646 votes.

In addition to the four contested races, five candidates running unopposed were elected during the Town Election.

Friends of the Lynnfield Library President Anne Malenfant got elected to a three-year term on the Board of Library Trustees after receiving 1,308 votes. Finance Committee member Joe Gallagher was also elected to a three-year term on the Board of Library Trustees after getting 1,303 votes.

Former State Rep. Steven Walsh was elected as town moderator after earning 1,511 votes. He succeeds former Town Moderator Joe Markey.

Planning Board member Amy MacNulty was elected to a full five-year term after receiving 1,508 votes. She previously served a three-year term.

Board of Assessors Chair Don Garrity was elected to a fourth three-year term after earning 1,508 votes.

Haggstrom swore in Leahy, Dillon, DePrizio, Elworthy, Sheehan, Kumar, Malenfant and Gallagher in the Al Merritt Media and Cultural Center after the results were announced.

The meeting’s attendees gave all of the winning candidates a round of applause.