Lucy, Bennett Face Challenge From Retired Judge Mills in Selectman Race

When voters hit the polls May 7 for the Town Election, they'll have to decide contested races on the Board of Selectmen and the Housing Authority.

Selectmen Keith Lucy and Dan Bennett are both up for re-election and face a challenge for one of their seats from retired judge David Mills.

Mills, reports the Salem News, is a former prosecutor and Danvers Town Moderator and spent 25 years as a Town Meeting member. He was first appointed as a judge in 2001.

Lucy, an electrical engineer, is finishing up his third three-year term on the board and is currently second in seniority to Selectman Michael Powers.

Bennett, who unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Ted Speliotis again in November, is looking to win a third term on the board. He works as a real estate agent in town and has previously served on the School Committee and the Board of Library Trustees.

On the Housing Authority, incumbent Ann Marie Penick and Michael Swindell are running for a five-year term.

School Committee member Arthur Skarmeas is unchallenged for another three-year term and three new candidates are making bids for Library Trustee: Julie Curtis, Natalie Luca Fiore and Frank Herschede.

The Salem News reports that incumbent trustee Kathleen Lopes did not return papers by the March 19 deadline.