Mattapoisett’s native son, Jordan Collyer, held his seat on the Select Board during the May 17 Town Election with a 750-196 landslide victory over challenger Donald LaMarr.
“I love this job,” said Collyer. “I want my children to have what I had growing up here.”
The Select Board member thanked LaMarr for running a good campaign, saying it was an honor and a pleasure to meet him and that he hopes LaMarr would find a way to help in town government.
Collyer ran a very low-key campaign, spending months leading up to the elections preparing for and participating in the preparation of the FY23 budget and Spring Town Meeting. When asked for his comments immediately after the win was announced, he thanked the voters for their continued support. He said the work of the town would continue Wednesday morning with a list that includes addressing school issues in the number one position. Collyer said that Town Meeting proved that people are ready to have more serious discussions regarding school spending and budgets, saying, “We need a long-term solution.” Collyer also said that completing the bike path, specifically Phase 1b, is another high priority on his list.
Asked if this would be his last term, which would bring him to the 20-year mark, Collyer said, “My intention was to run one more time, but I’ll play it by ear.”
He said as long as there continues to be high-caliber team members such as Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, Chief of Police Jason King and Fire Chief Andrew Murray, he might wish to try again.
For now, the win caps a turbulent period for the town and its residents as the pandemic stretched resources in every category.
In the only other contested race, Mike Rosa was reelected to Trustees of the Public Library with 614 votes. The other three-year term went to Bill Coquillette, who edged Donald Fleming, 480-430.
Two three-year terms were taken on the Mattapoisett School Committee by write-in candidates Cristine Cowles (388 votes) and Amanda Hasting (385) and retiring Mattapoisett Schools Principal Rose Bowman garnered 781 votes in her campaign for a three-year term on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee. Receiving write-in votes in unsuccessful bids for Mattapoisett School Committee were Rick Riley (194) and Lyn Pelland (147.)
Attorney John Mathieu ran unopposed for an open seat on the Planning Board and got 688 votes for a three-year term.
Write-in counts made for a long night for election volunteers, and two other openings were won by write-in candidates: Michelle Bernier (66) to a three-year term on the Board of Health and Dana Barrows (25) to a three-year term on the Water and Sewer Commission.
Incumbents running unopposed included: Cary Leblanc (771 votes) on the Board of Assessors; James Pierson (699) and Susan Wilbur (759) on the Community Preservation Committee; Suzanne Kennedy (721) on the Mattapoisett Housing Authority; Constable Kenneth Pacheco (746); Herring Inspector Jonathan Wilbur (724); Moderator John Eklund (762); and Tree Warden Roland Cote (779.)
By Marilou Newell