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Federici, Mailloux trump Thorpe in elections

Date: 4/17/2012

April 16, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — In a convincing victory over challenger Angela Thorpe, incumbent Paul Federici earned three more years on the Board of Selectmen at the April 10 Annual Town Election.

Federici received 1,273 votes, or 74 percent, while Thorpe took the other 26 percent with 456 votes.

"It's good to see that the people felt that I did some things right in my first three years," Federici said. "I'm appreciative of everyone's support and now I can get back to helping keep this town on the right path, which is where I think we are right now."

Federici said that in addition to residents' appreciation of the work he has done, he thought the town made it clear that they did not believe that one candidate could hold more than one seat.

In addition to the Board of Selectmen, Thorpe was also running for School Committee in the town's second contested race, which she also lost. She was allowed to do so because the town currently has no by-law prohibiting it.

Board of Selectmen Chair James Driscoll has submitted a warrant article for the Annual Town Meeting that would create such a by-law.

"I didn't speak at all about someone running for two seats during my campaign, but I think the people let their opinion about it be known," Federici said. "Given that both elections had such a wide gap, it was clear people were not in favor of it."

Political newcomer Deirdre Mailloux, who also dominated the vote in the town's preliminary election on March 12, captured 60 percent of the vote with 1,043 marks next to her name to defeat Thorpe, who received 396 votes.

There were 308 write-in votes, most of which Town Clerk Thomas Florence said were for incumbent Joseph Cabrera, who ran a write-in campaign after losing out to Thorpe in the preliminary by 12 votes.

"I'm very excited," Mailloux said. "I didn't know what to expect, especially with Joe Cabrera pursuing a write-in campaign, but I'm very happy with the results."

Mailloux, who during her campaign touted her ability to bring fresh ideas to the table because she had no political history in town, said she did not have any issues she would be focusing on when she took over Cabrera's seat.

"I'm just looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work," she said. "I'm not going at this with any specific issue in mind. Clearly the budget is always a big concern, but I don't have any specific agendas."

The election brought 1,781 registered voters, or 16.1 percent, out to the polls at Birchland Park Middle School, In 2011, 1,835 voters — 17 percent — appeared to vote on one contested race for School Committee, which Gregory Thompson and Richard Freccero won.

"It was pretty steady for most of the day. Last year's numbers were strikingly similar," Florence said. "I think the School Committee race, especially with a write-in campaign involved, brought out a few more people."



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