The May 16 Mattapoisett Town Election found incumbent Tyler Macallister winning a three-year term to remain a Select Board member, defeating first-time opponent Catherine Heuberger.
Macallister received 1,252 votes to Heuberger’s 408. Word on the street was the race would be much tighter, given the third candidate, Brian Connelly, might split the vote, making it possible for Heuberger to win without getting a majority of all who cast votes on this night. With Macallister’s vote advantage, Connelly’s 245 votes did not factor in the outcome.
After the results were announced, Heuberger congratulated Macallister. She shared with The Wanderer, “I’m a bit relieved … it was a lot of work.” When asked if she would try again in the future, she responded with a smile and chuckle saying, “I wouldn’t put my family or coworkers through that again.” Heuberger said it was a good experience, one that she’ll remember for a long time.
Macallister expressed his appreciation at being reelected this way: “I’ll have a chance to continue working on projects such as the wharf,” an improvement project that has been brewing for nearly 10 years. He also said that now that the UMass Boston Collins Center report on school-consolidation options have been released, the material contained therein will be helpful as the Select Board and Mattapoisett School Committee continue to study ways to keep school costs from pushing a tax burden on the residents.
During a 27-hour period that began with the Collins Center’s conclusion that school consolidation won’t save money and concluding with Tuesday night’s successful reelection campaign, Mattapoisett School Committee Chairperson Carly Lavin hasn’t broken stride.
“We have a lot of work (to do) in town. Aging infrastructure is something that doesn’t just affect the non-school community. It affects us in making sure that we have a thriving community so I’m excited about helping continue that work,” said Lavin after garnering 1,270 votes to 657 for challenger David Pierre Jr., who was gracious in defeat.
“Congratulations to Carly … I wish everybody the best. I know that she is dedicated to the students and families in the community,” said Pierre.
Lavin was pleased to learn more than 1,500 registered voters visited Old Hammondtown School to cast ballots.
“To have this large of a voting turnout today tells me that our town is engaged. I think that’s great,” said Lavin. “We don’t all think alike; we don’t all have the same opinions, but I think we all have a love and a care for the town, and I think if we can center around that and try and move forward. I’m hopeful that we can do what’s right to make sure Mattapoisett is as wonderful a place for the future as it is now.”
Comparably, ORR School Committee incumbent Frances-Feliz Kearns won with a 1,169-791 margin over challenger Richard Reilly.
In the only other contested race, incumbent Ruth Oliver Jolliffe maintained her seat on the Trustees of the Public Library with 1,366 votes. William Coquillette, who ran unsuccessfully last year, garnered 996 votes to take the other open seat. Paul Criscuolo received 427 votes, while 1,189 ballots were left blank.
In other races not related to schools, Heuberger will return as the town clerk for another three years, receiving 1,507 votes. Raymond Andrews held his position as assessor for another three years in an uncontested race with 1,527 votes.
Water/Sewer Commissioner Daniel Chase was reelected in his uncontested race, receiving 1,498 votes, and unopposed Board of Health incumbent Carmelo Nicolosi was reelected for another three years with 1,489 votes.
A vacant five-year position on the Planning Board went to William Wennerberg, III, uncontested with 1,354 votes. The Mattapoisett Housing Authority kept John Vaughn for another five-year term with 1,451 votes and Community Preservation Committee members Michelle Hughes and Chuck McCullough won their uncontested bids with 1,422 and 1,348 votes, respectively.
With no one on the ballot for town moderator, the winner among 289 write-in votes was not determined on Tuesday night.
The one question on the ballot asked the voters to provide exemption from proposition two and a half, the amount required to pay for the bond issued in order to pay costs of road reconstruction for the Pearl and Oakland streets roadway, including incidental expenses. The vote was 993 yes to 635 no.
Mattapoisett Town Election
By Marilou Newell and Mick Colageo