Published in the April 26, 2017 edition
WAKEFIELD — Incumbent School Committeeman Christopher Callanan was the top contested race vote-getter in yesterday’s municipal election, winning reelection to another term, and new selectmen Ed Dombroski and Mehreen Butt will sit at the board table for the next three years.
As rain fell, most of the 3,454 voters who participated in yesterday’s balloting headed to the polls to make their picks from an impressively populated field.
Town Clerk Betsy Sheeran’s prediction before the election that turnout would be around 18 percent was right on the money.
“Considering the conditions, I think 18.5 percent was a good showing,” Sheeran said today. “(Elections are) a very important exercise. I consider them to be not just a right, but a privilege.”
With three people getting elected for the first time, all candidates seemed to have success getting their people out to vote.
Dombroski was tops in the six-way Board of Selectmen race for two available positions, getting 1,566 votes to Butt’s 1,364. Incumbent Selectman Phyllis Hull finished just out of the running with 1,128 votes. Dan Benjamin came in fourth with 1,060 votes, Jim Lapery got 692 votes and Stefan Chase got 211 votes in his first foray into Wakefield elected politics.
In the five-way school board race, Callanan, now entering his fifth term, got 1,841 votes. Anne-Marie Fortier, another first-time candidate this year, finished a close second with 1,820. One-time School Committeeman Evan Kenney finished a distant third in the race for two vacant positions, followed by Greg Powers and Ashley Chase, the wife of selectman hopeful Stefan Chase.
The third contested race was for one constable post. Incumbent John Ruehrwein Sr. was bested by Kevin Lopes 1,330 votes to 990. Robert Stewart finished third with 533 votes.
Of all candidates running yesterday, unopposed Town Clerk Betsy Sheeran received the highest number of votes, 2,423.
