HomeCATNews UpdatesElectionELECTION: Slow Day at Westford Polling Districts

ELECTION: Slow Day at Westford Polling Districts

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Empty polling booths on May 7. PHOTO BY JOYCE PELLINO CRANE

If voting precincts 1 and 3 are any indication, the May 7 town-wide election will have a poor turn out this year.

Although there were open seats on the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Health, the Housing Authority, the Board of Library Trustees, and the Planning Board, the School Committee was the only contested race.

Alicia D. Mallon who was appointed to the seat in 2017 and 2018 was being challenged by Sean P. Kelly and Daniel A. Goldner. But even with such a crucial seat up for grabs, it appeared that voters were not flocking to the polls.

Judith Culver, warden for Precinct 1. PHOTO BY JOYCE PELLINO CRANE

“Dismal,” said Precinct 1 warden, Judith Culver when asked about the turnout. At 10:30 a.m., three-and-a-half hours after the polls had opened, only 32 voters had cast ballots.

Precinct 3 warden, Joe Lapiana, called the 54 votes cast in his district as, “Terrible. The worse turnout I’ve seen in the years I’ve been doing this.”

Precinct 3 warden, Joe Lapiana with clerk, Judy Daly. PHOTO BY JOYCE PELLINO CRANE

A retired Dracut school teacher, Lapiana said he’s been helping with town elections for the past 15 years.

Outside the Abbot School two lone sign holders rooted for Kelly and Mallon.

Laurence Kelly said he was supporting his brother because he could bring a new perspective to the committee.

Laurence Kelly holding a sign for his brother. PHOTO BY JOYCE PELLINO CRANE

“My brother is driven and has critical thinking skills,” Laurence said.

Sally Rosenthal said she was supporting Mallon because the two had served on the Parent-Teacher Organization and she saw the level of commitment Mallon brings to her endeavors.

“That’s the way she lives her life,” said Rosenthal. “I like her commitment for anything she decides to do.”

Sally Rosenthal campaigning for Mallon. PHOTO BY JOYCE PELLINO CRANE

Meanwhile, inside the Abbot School gymnasium, Culver looked around the room, noting her six poll workers who were not busy and said, “In my opinion it’s so dismal, I think three people could have covered the precinct.”

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