Peabody Light Commission Field: Melvin, Paras, Valletti, Wheatley

PEABODY, MA — A crowded group of six candidates for the Peabody Light Commission is down to four after Tuesday night's preliminary election.

Incumbent Thomas Paras, Ray Melvin, incumbent Robert Wheatley and Tracy Valletti advanced to the Nov. 2 general election, while MaryBeth Mallia and Joel Brenner failed to make the final four cut.

The interest in the position comes at the same time the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company is moving forward to add a 55-megawatt surge-capacity generator to the Waters River substation amid opposition from some local officials and environmental groups.

In late results, Paras led the field with 1,384 votes, while Wheatley had 836 votes. Melvin was second overall with 953 votes, while Valletti had 685 votes.

Mallia had 635 votes and Brenner got 501.

The vote came on the night Peabody had two contested preliminary city council races in Wards 4 and 5.

In Ward 4, it was challenger Julie Daigle and incumbent Edward Charest advancing to a Nov. 2 faceoff. John Salisbury finished third.

In Ward 5, incumbent Joel Saslaw finished second to David Gamache with both advancing to the general election. Matthew Molk was third — 22 votes out of a qualifying spot.

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More Patch Coverage: Peabody City Council: Charest, Daigle, Gamache, Saslaw Win Prelim