Sisitsky Takes Decisive Win In Framingham Mayoral Preliminary

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The official results of Framingham's 2021 preliminary election are in, and voters gave mayoral challenger Charlie Sisitsky a large victory over incumbent Mayor Yvonne Spicer.

The official results released Wednesday morning show that Sisitsky, a former city councilor, earned 4,401 votes to Spicer's 1,938 — a margin of almost 2,500. Sisitsky also bested Spicer in all but two of Framingham's 18 voting precincts, including in Spicer's home Precinct 6.

The results are almost a flip of the 2017 mayoral primary, where Spicer beat now-Councilor John Stefanini by a margin of about 2,800 votes.

The third mayoral candidate, Carlos Valadares, picked up 363 votes. There were also 18 write-in votes and seven blank ballots, according to the City Clerk. In the downtown-area District 7 race to replace Margareth Shepard, Leora Mallach came in first place with Magda Janus in second.

Sisitsky said his lead on Tuesday shows there's a clear choice in the 2021 mayoral race. Although he entered 2021 only in May, he emerged with endorsements from several City Councilors, School Committee Chair Adam Freudberg and state Reps. Jack Lewis and Maria Robinson.

"People are rightfully concerned about the fiscal crisis, rising water and sewer bills, and the current lack of professional municipal expertise amidst the departure of so many department heads and other key individuals and volunteers in the Mayor’s administration," he said just before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday "This commitment by the voters for positive the change I am offering is reflected in today’s election results."

In her statement, Spicer said she was disappointed in low turnout on Tuesday, but said she was "honored and humbled" by the voters who picked her.

"I will continue to work every single day as your mayor, keeping us on track during this election and striving to build on today’s momentum," she said just before 10 p.m. "I am grateful to those who did come out to vote for me and to every person who has worked on my campaign team. I ask for your vote in November to build a Framingham that works for all."

Spicer and Sisitsky will go on to compete in the November election for a four-year term — only the second mayoral term in Framingham's history as a city.

About 6,700 Framingham voters cast a ballot in Tuesday's election, which is just under 17 percent turnout. That's about 10 points off from the 2017 mayoral primary when 27.5 percent turned out in the city's first such contest.

Here are the officials results from the Framingham City Clerk:

Framingham Mayor

• Charlie Sisitsky — 4,401 votes
• Yvonne Spicer — 1,938 votes
• Carlos Valadares — 363 votes

District 7

• Magda Janus — 126 votes
• Eugene Grzywna — 93 votes
• Joseph Hansberry — 48 votes
• Leora Mallach — 244 votes

Here's a look at how the two mayoral candidates performed by precinct:

North of Route 9

1 Sisitsky 478, Spicer 125
2 Sisitsky 506, Spicer 164
3 Sisitsky 261, Spicer 134
4 Sisitsky 417, Spicer 186
5 Sisitsky 360, Spicer 160
6 Sisitsky 426, Spicer 150

Both sides of Route 9

7 Sisitsky 326, Spicer 147
8 Sisitsky 285, Spicer 150
9 Sisitsky 173, Spicer 57
10 Sisitsky 104, Spicer 57

South of Route 9

11 Sisitsky 411, Spicer 184
12 Sisitsky 128, Spicer 59
13 Sisitsky 216, Spicer 139
14 Sisitsky 80, Spicer 50
15 Sisitsky 128, Spicer 58
16 Spicer 34, Sisitsky 20
17 Spicer 33, Sisitsky 8
18 Sisitsky 74, Spicer 50

With Framingham's 2021 preliminary over, the focus will turn to the November general election, which will feature several other competitive Council races, an entirely uncompetitive set of School Committee races, plus library and cemetery trustees races. Here's who will be on the ballot in November if Tuesday's unofficial primary results hold:

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