NEWLY ELECTED Select Board member Nick Masse (4th from left) was supported by a small army at the polls on Tuesday night. (Maureen Doherty Photo)

 

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING – There will be both new and familiar faces representing the townspeople following the results of Tuesday’s annual Town Election.

On a gorgeously sunny spring day, 1,997 voters ventured to the polls out of the town’s 12,551 eligible voters to participate in this rite of spring. The parking lot at St. Theresa’s Church, the town’s centralized polling location, was flooded with a sea of signs held by the supporters of all the candidates throughout the day until the polls closed at 8 p.m.

 

Town Election Results chart 05 07 24 _unofficial.xlsx

 

VOTER KATIE LOMBARDI took her daughter Gracie, 7 1/2, with her to the polls Tuesday night on their way home from Gracie’s dress rehearsal for her upcoming dance recital. (Maureen Doherty Photo)

 

In a tight three-way race for two Select Board seats, newcomer Nick Masse topped the ticket with 1,106 votes while longtime incumbent Stephen J. O’Leary retained his seat with 1,098 votes and incumbent Kate Manupelli finished a close third with 1,024 votes. She has served on the board for three consecutive three-year terms, including multiple years as chair. O’Leary was first elected to the board in 1988 and has served in the position for about 32 out of the past 36 years, having missed one full term and a portion of another term in that timespan back in the 1990s.

The voters also elected two newcomers to the School Committee as political newcomer Jennifer Leenders topped the ticket with 1,215 votes and Finance Committee member Tim Sutherland took second with 980 votes. Incumbent School Committee Vice Chair Rich McGowan, seeking his third consecutive term, placed third with 904 votes. Incumbent Dyana Boutwell chose not to run for a third term.

 

JENNIFER (MANLEY) LEENDERS (second from left) topped the ticket for School Committee on Tuesday with 1,215 votes. Joining her shortly before the polls closed were Kate Morgan, her parents, Tom and Elaine Manley, son Lydon Leenders and Mike Paige. (Maureen Doherty Photo)

One veteran member and one newcomer will serve on the Community Planning Commission (CPC) for the next three years. Incumbent Ryan Carroll (1,312 votes) and newcomer Maxwell Murphy (1,224 votes) did not have any challengers. Incumbent Jeremiah Johnston chose not to seek reelection. Carroll was elected to his third three-year term.

Town Moderator John Murphy has been returned to his post for the 20th consecutive year, with 1,515 votes. It is the only one-year position on the ballot under the Town Charter. Prior to his service as Town Moderator he had served one term on the Board of Selectmen.

Retired Building Inspector James DeCola was also unopposed for his seat on the Housing Authority and was elected to another five-year term with 1,518 votes.

Tuesday night, Masse said his victory represented a lot of hard work.

“I feel great,” Masse said. “It was nice to feel that the community recognized the effort that I was putting in. I can’t go without saying that Kate and Steve ran an unbelievable campaign and I am really pleased to have met both of them.”

 

ROOM FOR ALL. The campaign trail brought three of the candidates in Tuesday’s election side by side to greet voters as they entered the polls at St. Theresa’s Parish Hall. From left: School Committee incumbent Rich McGowan, Joe Renna, School Committee challenger Tim Sutherland and his wife Janelle Sutherland, Paul O’Leary, and Sue and Steve O’Leary, Select Board incumbent. (Maureen Doherty Photo)

Reflecting on his victory, O’Leary said, “It is extremely gratifying to have the continued support from the community. I look forward to working on the challenges ahead and welcoming Nick Masse to the board and working with him.”

After winning his first elective office, Sutherland said, “I am pleased to be selected for the School Committee and looking forward to navigating through the next several years. I am looking forward to working with the school administration and the town to make the best decisions for our students.”

Technically, the election results remain “unofficial” until 10 days after the election.

 

KATE MANUPELLI (3rd from right) is joined by many of her loyal supporters at the polls on Tuesday night in her campaign for her Select Board seat. (Maureen Doherty Photo)