WESTFORD — Voters cast their choices on two contested races – as well as two questions that asked voters whether to approve a Proposition 2 1/2 override during this year’s town election.
Though official results are unlikely to change the outcomes of these races, these results remain an unofficial tally of each race until the results are certified.
Select Board
John Cunningham – 3,545
Meghan O’Connell – 2,698
School Committee
Kathryn Clear – 4,085
Thomas Laflamme – 3,963
Laurie Oliver – 4,520
Joseph Spadano – 3,365
Question 1 – $4.2 million override
Yes – 3,128
No – 3,944
Voters previously approved Article 1, an FY25 budget with a $4.2 million override, during the April 27 Annual Town Meeting. This budget relied on this question’s approval at the ballot box.
The town will now default to a previously approved FY25 budget within Proposition 2 1/2 constraints. Officials previously stated that this budget could result in cuts of as much as 172 “total equivalent jobs,” with each role assessed at $70,000 per year.
However, this proposal could have also resulted in an approximately 9.9% increase in residents’ tax bills, according to the town’s website. An average single-family home assessed at $756,500 could have had its tax bill permanently increased by approximately $764 in FY25 – in addition to future adjustments in FY26 and beyond.
Question 2 – $2.6 million override for a stabilization fund
Yes – 2,680
No – 4,371
Article 2, which would have established a stabilization fund for additional override funding, failed to cinch a required 2/3rds majority during Annual Town Meeting.
Voters previously dismissed Article 3, which would have funded a stabilization account with $2.6 million raised from a Proposition 2 1/2 override.
Uncontested races
Several uncontested races appeared on this year’s ballot.
- Joanne Belanger returns to the Board of Health for three years.
- Patricia Dubey will serve one year on the Housing Authority. She was previously appointed to a vacant seat on the authority during a Dec. 12 Select Board meeting.
- Marianne Fleckner and Deborah Teal will each return to J.V. Fletcher Library Board of Trustees for two years.
- Michael Bonenfant returns to the Planning Board for an additional five year term.
The town saw a significantly higher level of participation compared to previous town elections, with 7,092 ballots cast on May 7 – a 37.8% turnout.
Other town elections, such as on May 2, 2023, saw an 11.8% turnout, while a May 3, 2022 election saw a 12.3% turnout.
