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Date: 4/4/2022
LUDLOW – On March 28, Ludlow residents gathered in their respective precincts to vote for candidates in the town’s election. Following the election, Reminder Publishing reached out to candidates to discuss the results.
With two seats open for the School Committee and six candidates, Jeffrey Stratton and Ron Saloio took the top spots with 1,247 and 1,188 votes, followed by Karen Mowry with 1,165 votes, Angela Anselmo with 799 votes, Laura Ann Tuck with 477 votes and Michelle Mayou with 347 votes. Throughout the race, there was significant debate online over the political ideology of the candidates.
Stratton said he was thankful for the support and excited for what comes next.
“What an exciting election! I’d like to say thank you to everyone who came out to vote. It was a great turnout for a town election, and I appreciate all the support from so many people. Those were some COLD standouts!” he said. “Thanks especially to Karen Mowry and her family, Mike Kelliher, Chad Mullin, and Laura Ann Tuck. Thanks to my own kids and my wife Brandi for encouraging me to do this. I am excited to be part of the team of parents, teachers, staff, and administrators striving to provide a great education to our kids.”
Saloio said over email he was happy to put the election behind him and was ready to work on the committee.
“I would like to thank all of the people who supported me through this hostile race. First and foremost my wife Lisa and all my kids, some of that also had to put up with unnecessary and defamatory remarks. This was the first time in my life I was embarrassed for this town. Fortunately, through my years of meeting families face to face, the people of Ludlow were able to see right through the lies and defamation on the so-called community forums and social media by the keyboard warriors,” he said. “Now the work begins and I look forward to working with the remaining members of the committee and new member Jeff Stratton to do what’s best for the Town of Ludlow and its kids.”
Despite a 23-vote gap between Saloio and Mowry, Mowry shared that she did not intend to seek a recount in a Facebook post published on March 29. Over email she said she was looking forward to the future.
“I am grateful for all the support I received and although I am disappointed I’m fortunate enough to continue to support students and their needs in my daily work. I do plan on considering a future candidacy,” she wrote.
In the Planning Board race, incumbent member Joshua Carpenter defeated associate member Joel Silva 1,243 and 1,121 votes respectively.
Carpenter said he was looking forward to his next term after being appointed to the seat in the last cycle.
“I am grateful for the support our campaign received over the past few months, and it translated into a victory for our team Monday night. I would like to thank Mr. Silva for taking the time to run and I look forward to working with him, and all of our residents to make sure their visions for our town come to fruition. Thank you to all the voters who came out and cast their votes for me and I hope for the voters who didn’t choose me, I can earn their support in the future,” he wrote.
With 1,951 and 632 votes respectively, Villa Rose owner Tony Tavares beat out current Board of Health Chair Michael LaFever for a three-year term.
In the Board of Selectmen race, members Derek DeBarge received 1,799 votes and Bill Rosenblum received 1,727 votes to maintain their seats with new three-year terms despite a challenge from write-in candidate Edward Deragon, who received 43 votes.
In terms of uncontested races, Board of Public Works members Matias Goncalves and Alexander Simao were elected to three-year terms, they received 1,620 and 1,556 votes respectively. Planning Board member Joseph Queiroga was elected to a new five-year term with 1,788 votes and Sean McBride was elected to a new three-year term on the Recreation Commission with 1,879 votes.
The election also saw write- in races for an open seat on the Board of Assessors and Library Trustees. In the assessor race, John Urban received 50 votes to beat out Timothy Donnelly and Deidre Thompson, who received 24 and 3 votes respectively. With 367 votes Kathleen Ouimette defeated Peter Ouimette (no relation), who received 215 votes for the trustee seat.
While Reminder Publishing reached out to the candidates in the contested races, only Stratton, Saloio, Mowry and Carpenter returned a comment by press time.