Lauren Conoscenti, Laura Gregory Elected In Andover Town Election

ANDOVER, MA — Laura Gregory and Lauren Conoscenti won their elections handily in the Andover town election, Tuesday.

Incumbent Select Board chair Gregory fended off a challenge from student Stephen Prochniak with over two-thirds of the vote, while data scientist Conoscenti took over half the vote in the three-way race for an open seat on the School Committee.

Full results are below.

Conoscenti campaigned on improving transparency and communication between the School Committee and families. She also argued that her background, as a data scientist at Tufts, gave her both useful skills and a unique perspective on how to prepare students for higher education.

The campaign had in part broken along the lines of the start times debate which captured much of the school community's attention early in the year. Conoscenti prepared one of the analyses the Committee used in its push to make changes, while Hafensteiner was involved with Andover: Protect All Children, an advocacy group formed in part in opposition to extreme shifts to elementary school start times.

Conoscenti argued the School Committee should research the issue "thouroughly, flexibly, with an open mind."

"As an elementary school mom, I completely understand the concerns of our elementary parents, but I also vividly remember being a high school student, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, not able to sleep," Conoscenti said during a candidate forum. "I understand that what we're asking them to do is not compatible with their biology."

Gregory, an attorney, was elected to the Select Board in 2017. She campaigned on her experience and continuing the work the Board's work. She argued that she has improved civility on the Board.

Gregory also touted a number of achievements of the town in recent years, including the North Reading water agreement, the new Ballardville fire station and advancing the Old Town Yard sale.

Three races were uncontested: moderator, Punchard Free School Trustees and the Andover Housing Authority.

Election Results

Unofficial results. Winners printed in bold type. Candidates for re-election are marked with an asterisk (*). Percentages may not add up to exactly 100 due to rounding.

The full unofficial results are available from the town here.

Select Board – One Seat

School Committee – One Seat

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.