Danvers Elects New School Committee Member In Annual Town Vote

DANVERS, MA — Beth Kontos will join the Danvers School Committee after she was the top vote-getter in a three-person race for two seats at the Danvers annual town election on Tuesday.

Kontos received 1,165 votes, with incumbent Joshua Kepnes earning the other seat with 867 votes. Edward Schrage was third in the voting with 480 votes, according to unofficial totals.

"Beth Kontos, our beloved past state federation president, was elected today to the Danvers School Committee — congratulations Beth!" the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts said in a statement late Tuesday night.

Kontos will replace former Chair Eric Crane, who decided not to run for re-election after two decades on the Committee and was honored for his service at the conclusion of the last Committee meeting.

School Committee and Library Trustees were the only townwide contested races in this year's election, which included town moderator, one Select Board seat and town meeting members.

There were four candidates for three Library Trustees seats. Ellen Graham was the top vote-getter with 916 votes, with Charles Desmond second at 883 and Cory Ryan third at 861. Kathryn Carbone was fourth with 616 votes.

Select Board Chair Maureen Bernard ran unopposed and was re-elected, as was Moderator Patricia Frazier.