Write-In Campaign Falls Short In North Andover Select Board Race

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- Rosemary O'Connell Smedle was reelected to the North Andover Select Board Tuesday, despite a last-minute write-in campaign by Julia Ross. Smedle receive 1,146, or 75 percent, of the 1,534 votes cast in the race. Ross received 329, or 21 percent of votes.

Ross announced her candidacy for Tuesday's election on Patch's Neighbor Post and social media Monday night. In the campaign announcement posted by a supporter, Ross promised a "fresh perspective on things with the town's best interests in mind."

The 1,534 voters who made it to the polls Tuesday represent just 8 percent of registered voters in North Andover. Some North Andover voters saw Ross's tactic as a way to take advantage of the low turnout.

"Launching this attack the day before an election where the voters were told there was no opposition and thereby lowering turnout to a ridiculously low level would appear troublesome. Why not get into the public forum sooner?" North Andover resident Stephen Murphy posted on Patch Neighbor Post. "If this is the way this person handles an election, I think we all should be concerned about motives."

In the only other race on the ballot, Amy T. Mabley ran unopposed and was reelected to the North Andover School Committee.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).