Salem 2021 Mayor's Race: It's Driscoll vs. Dibble

SALEM, MA — Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and City Councilman Steve Dibble will face off on Nov. 2 to be the next mayor of the city.

Unofficial results posted from the Salem City Clerk's office show the incumbent mayor received 60.5 percent of the vote in Tuesday's preliminary election, with Dibble at 37.4 percent and challenger Frank Perley at 2.2 percent.

Salem voters participated in early voting and went to the polls on Tuesday to narrow the field for mayor and four city council seats.

Salem voters also picked two finalists in City Council races in Wards 1, 2, 4 and 7.

In the mayor's race, Kim Driscoll said in May that she was running for a fifth term at City Hall. She entered Tuesday with two challengers in City Councilman Steve Dibble and first-time candidate as well as lifelong Salem resident Frank Perley.

The Ward 1 City Council race included Maribel Steadman, Robert McCarthy and Christopher Malstrom. Incumbent McCarthy came out in first with 37.9 percent of the vote, while Steadman was second at 32.9 and Malstrom was third at 26.8.

"I am on to the next round and carried Precinct 2," Steadman posted on her Facebook page about 9 p.m. "Muchas gracias!"

The Ward 2 City Council race included James Zavaglia, Armand Blanchette and Caroline Watson-Felt. Watson-Felt was first at 72.7 percent, while Zavaglia was second at 16.1 and Blanchette third at 11.2.

The Ward 4 City Council race included Grayson Martinez Ocasio, Leveille McClain and Stephanie Rodgriguez. Rodriguez was first at 39.4 percent, while McClain was second at 31.0 and Martinez Ocasio was third at 29.6.

"The numbers are in — and so are we," McClain posted on social media about 10 p.m. "Campaign for McClain advances to the November ballot for Salem City Council in Ward 4! Thank you to EVERYONE who planted a sign, opened their door, and picked me up when I was down — this moment belongs to you too.

"I said at the start of the day that no matter the outcome tonight, our whole Ward will ultimately benefit from having a representative that was forced to dig deep and get to work right out of the gate. I still believe that.

But I also believe that we're moving forward because voters believe in the message of this campaign. We can cultivate common sense and common ground at our city council. We can create a sense of community while still welcoming different perspectives. We can confront our challenges with affordability, quality of life, and environmental stewardship. But only if we do it together."

The Ward 7 City Council race included Andrew Varela, Francis Riggieri and Veronica Faustino. Varela was first at 40.1 percent, while Riggieri was second at 36.7 and Faustino third at 23.2.

Election results

Mayor

Kimberly Driscoll: 4,111 votes

Steve Dibble: 2,539

Frank Perley: 147

Total: 6,797

Ward 1 City Council

Robert McCarthy: 403

Maribel Steadman: 309

Christopher Malstrom: 252

Ward 2 City Council

Caroline Watson-Felt: 898

James Zavaglia: 199

Armond Blanchette: 138

Ward 4 City Council

Stephanie Rodriguez: 403

Leveille McClain: 317

Graysen Martinez Ocasio: 303

Ward 7 City Council

Andrew Varela: 338

Francis Riggieri: 309

Veronica Faustino: 195

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