Woburn Councilman Gaffney Faces Two Challengers Tuesday

Woburn will hold its preliminary election on Tuesday. The only contested race is in Ward 3, where Philip Ciampa and Claire Malaguti are challenging incumbent Mark Gaffney. Woburn conducts preliminary elections when there are three or more candidates for Ward Alderman, with the final election scheduled for the first Tuesday in November.

Gaffney has held the post since 2009. He is a realtor and also owns a sign-making business with his brother Keith. Among his accomplishments as Alderman were sponsoring a bill to help the city obtain eight additional liquor licenses and working to preserve Spence Farm as open space.

Ciampa, of Plympton Street, owns a chain of local hair salons. Malagutti, of Colonial Road, took out and returned nomination papers just before the June deadline.

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Aldermen are elected to two-year terms. Other contested races in the November election include John Beauchamp challenging incumbent Edward Tedesco in Ward Six and Charles Viola challenging incumbent Lindsay Higgins. Higgins defeated Viola two years ago.

Mayor Scott Galvin and City Council members Joanne Campbell (Ward 1), Richard Gately (Ward 2), Michael Anderson (Ward 4) and Darlene Mercer-Bruen (Ward 5) are all running unopposed in November's election.

Polls are open from 7 am until 8 pm Tuesday. Residents wishing to cast absentee votes in Tuesday's preliminary election have until noon Monday to file for an absentee ballot. For more information, including polling places, see the Woburn Town Clerk's election information Website.

Photo by Rama via Wikimedia Commons.