Wilmington Election Doesn't Put An End To Disputes

WILMINGTON, MA — Hours after losing the selectmen's race in Saturday's Wilmington town election, both Rob Fasulo and Suzanne Sullivan posted messages on Facebook thanking their supporters. But unlike other concession messages in other elections, there was a key element missing: neither offered congratulations or best wishes to Greg Bendel and Kevin Caira, the incumbents who were reelected in the race.

"We lost to a very well established machine that has been in power for decades. We knew it wouldnt (sic) be easy, and it certainly wasnt (sic)," Fasulo wrote on Facebook. "What I will end with is only one thing can be assured at this point, our group is not going anywhere and the Voice of Wilmington will finally be heard."

Fasulo and Sullivan were vocal opponents of the proposed, drug treatment facility that Bettering LLC wants to build at 362 Middlesex Avenue. For Fasulo, it was the second straight year he lost. And while he and Sullivan frequently campaigned together, having another candidate run on the same platform may have hurt his chances. He lost, for example, the only precinct he won in last year's election when he ran head-to-head against Jonathan Eaton.

In her post-defeat Facebook message, Sullivan said she would continue advocating for the issues that had prompted her to run for selectmen in the first place. Like Fasulo, she suggested the defeat came at the hands of a political machine in town.

"Both Rob and I know how bad it is and we plan on continuing to day light what is going on. There might be a political system much stronger than all the VOICES OF WILMINGTON , but that does not mean it can silence the truth," she wrote.

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