Callanan and Fortier Win School Committee Seats

It was cool, rainy, and basically a miserable day in Wakefield. Unless you were one of the 14 winners in Tuesday's annual town election.

In the contested races, Edward Dombroski and Mehreen Butt won seats on the Board of Selectmen, the only two candidates to get 20 percent or better in the selectmen's contest. Dombrowski received 1,566 votes or 25.94 percent. Mehreen received 1,364 votes, or 22.60 percent. Other candidates who fell short of a seat included Phyllis Hull (18.69 percent), Daniel Benjamin (17.56), James Lapery (11.46) and Stefan Chase (3.5).

In the race for School Committee, there were two clear winners for the two three-year seats with Christopher Callanan getting 1,841 votes or 31.78 percent and Anne-Marie Fortier getting 1,820 votes or 31.42 percent. Other candidates were far behind with Evan Kenney getting 1,110 votes (19.16 percent), Gregory Powers 549 votes (9.48), and Ashley Shae Chase 461 votes (7.96).

In the race for Constable, Kevin Lopes was the big winner with 1,330 votes or 46.64 percent. John Ruehrwein was second with 990 votes (34.70 percent) followed by Robert Stewart with 533 votes (18.68).

Not all the positions were contested. Betsy Sheeran won a three-year term as Town Clerk; William Carroll a one-year term as Moderator; John Warchol a three-year term for Municipal Gas and Light Commissioner; William D'Amore a five-tear term on the Planning Board; Alison Mehlman a three-year term on the Board of Health; Sebastian Tine a three-year term on the Board of Assessors; and Michael Bourque, Joseph Tringale, and Susan Wetmore all earned three-year terms as Library Trustees.

Of Wakefield's 18,668 voters, 3,454 braved the weather to vote, a turnout of 18.50 percent.