Woburn Election 2019: Dillon Wins In Ward 3 As Incumbents Sweep

WOBURN, MA — Mayor Scott Galvin won in a landslide against challenger Liz Pedrini in his bid Tuesday for a sixth term. The longtime incumbent, first elected in 2009, took more than two-thirds of the city's vote, as he did in the preliminary election in September. Incumbents carried their races across the board, winning in contested aldermen races and in the school committee race as well.

Two incumbent aldermen, Lindsay Higgins and Darlene Mercer-Bruen, easily defeated challengers, both taking over 70 percent of the vote. In the open city council seat, property manager Jeff Dillon won out over perennial candidate Claire Malaguti by a similarly large margin. In the school committee race, all three incumbents won: Ellen Crowley, Pat Chisholm and John Wells. The remaining two seats were secured by pediatric nurse Colleen Cormier and history teacher Andrew Lipsett.

6698 people voted, or 25.9 percent of registered voters. That's almost twice as many as in the September preliminary election, which saw just 13.6 percent turnout. (Some races show more than 6698 votes because voters could select more than one candidate in races with more than one seat available.)

"I'm really happy. I thank the voters for their confidence in giving me another term to continue moving the city forward," said Galvin. "I love the job. I love making the city a place that people want to come, raise a family. I grew up in Woburn, lived here all my life, and it's really gratifying to be a part of making Woburn a better place to live.

Election Results

Unofficial results. Winners printed in bold type. Candidates for re-election are marked with an asterisk (*). Percentages may not add up to exactly 100 due to rounding.

Mayor

Alderman-At-Large (2 seats)

Alderman, Ward One

Alderman, Ward Two

Alderman, Ward Three

Alderman, Ward Four

Alderman, Ward Five

Alderman, Ward Six

Alderman, Ward Seven

School Committee (5 seats available)

A significant portion voters expressed either displeasure with the incumbents or disinterest, by leaving their ballots blank. In the school committee race, there were three times as many blank votes as votes for any particular candidate. But most voters cast their ballots for the current slate of city officials.

"it was challenging, because it's important to have fresh people, but the balance with what's tried and true, that's hard to strike," said Jennifer Mahon, a Ward 3 voter.

In the mayoral race, Galvin, who was first elected in 2009, ran on his record, pointing to the city's AAA bond rating as evidence of his steady stewardship. Pedrini, meanwhile, argued that the development in the city during the Galvin administration was not matched by sufficient improvements in city services and quality of life for residents.

"With this job, you need to be qualified," said Galvin at the sole mayoral debate, Oct. 23. "My experience has really proven what we can do."

"We're a community of hard-working families who deserve decision to be 100% transparent and based on what is best for us as a whole, and not on connections, first names, or personal gain," said Pedrini. "I look forward to making Woburn a better home for all."

Galvin outspent Pedrini by a huge margin; in the final pre-election report, which covers the period ending Oct. 18, he had spent $11,598.89 since the preliminary election and had $38,698.53 on hand. Pedrini had spent $477.51 and had only $449.57 on hand.

Galvin also had a new Massachusetts Super PAC spending on his behalf: the big business-affiliated Massachusetts Majority Independent Expenditure PAC spent $6,137 on mailers supporting the incumbent mayor.

The seven candidates in the school committee race differentiated themselves based on their personal and professional experience. Five of the candidates shared their views at a forum hosted by SEPAC; all five won seats Tuesday.

Colleen Cormier, one of the two non-incumbents to win seats on the school committee, put her victory down to knocking on doors.

"I am so elated, honored that the people of Woburn trust me," Cormier said. "Knocking on doors, that's how you get votes. If you don't go out, why should anyone vote for you?"

In the open Ward Three alderman race, where incumbent Mark E. Gaffney chose not to seek re-election, real estate broker and property manager Jeff Dillon campaigned on dealing with traffic problems, while Claire Malaguti, who has run for the seat and for state representative in the past, did not run much of a campaign.

Many voters in the third ward said that Dillon personally knocked on their doors, which made a difference.

"He came to my house, met my kids. They liked him," said Ward 3 resident Mike Hamilton.

"I've been living here five years, and I like everything I see," Hamilton said, who also supported Galvin.

State Rep. Richard Haggerty, a Ward 3 resident, also came out to support Dillon.

"He has my full confidence," Haggerty said.

Both incumbent alderman who faced challengers, Lindsay Higgins and Darlene Mercer-Bruen, won re-election relatively easily. Higgins saw off a challenge from sales account manager and former school committee member Michael Scire, while Mercer-Bruen fended off James Todino.

"I've been out campaigning since the last week in August, and the feedback was good, but you don't know until the vote," said Mercer-Bruen. "I'm so grateful. This is an amazing city. The Cedar Street Slip Ramp, that's #1 on my agenda."

The two incumbents were the only candidates for the two at-large alderman seats.

Christopher Huffaker: 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.