High school issue galvanized an otherwise apathetic electorate

Date: 6/14/2010

June 14, 2010.

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor

LONGMEADOW -- It wasn't where residents cast their votes last Tuesday but where they didn't that seemed to tell a story about the mood of the town this election season.

According to Assistant Town Clerk Jackie Sullivan, of the 6,522 voters who went to the polls 4,106 voted in favor of the new high school project, while 2,353 were opposed.

She confirmed that 64 voters indicated no preference on this controversial issue, leaving that section of the ballot blank.

"We're grateful to the people who recognized the importance of this project and the great need that Longmeadow had to move forward with the high school," Elizabeth Baron, chairperson for Lancer Pride told Reminder Publications . "[This project] was over 10 years in the making. It's great to see the outcome."

Following the close of the polls, town Finance Director Paul Pasterezyk said the total annual cost to taxpayers for the new high school would not be determined until the project goes out to bond in two to three years.

"The estimate is $436 to $490 [in additional taxes per homeowner] per year for 25 years," he said. "It depends on what the interest rate is going to be." Voters were not as engaged in the races for the open seats on the Select Board and the School Committee.

Sullivan said 2,546 voters left blank the section of the ballot dedicated to the Select Board candidates.

Nearly double that amount, 4,239, indicated no preferences in the race for the two open seats on the School Committee.

A total of 2,385 cast no vote for Kenneth Taylor, who ran unopposed for a seat on the Planning Board.

"A lot of people came in and voted for no candidates, they only voted for the school. I find that disheartening and disappointing," Gerry Nolet, a member of Concerned Citizens of Longmeadow, said in the Community House lobby on election night.

Concerned Citizens of Longmeadow had opposed the high school project as fiscally irresponsible in light of the town's other needs.

The final election results, as confirmed by the Town Clerk's office on Wednesday, were as follows:

Select Board: incumbent Mark Gold was returned to his seat by 3,006 votes; Christine Swanson, who gave up her seat on the School Committee to make a bid for the Select Board won her seat with 2,725 votes. Challengers Michael Clark received 2,370 and David Gustafson, 2,363 votes, respectively. Gold and Swanson will serve for two years.

In the School Committee race, Thomas Brunette received 2,927 votes, Jennifer Jester 2,947 and Tracy DeMarco, 2,879. Brunette and Jester will both serve three-year terms.

Taylor was elected to a five-year term on the Planning Board by a vote of 4,058.

Gold, who ran for reelection after serving a single year on the Select Board to replace Brian Ashe, who was elected to the state legislature, said he was gratified that voters chose to allow him to continue his work.

"I believe the voters did recognize me and the work I've done for the town and the work I plan to do in the future," Gold said.

Acknowledging that he went on record as opposing the current high school project -- "I was for the school but I thought there was an alternative project" -- Gold added that he hoped the voter's decision will put an end to polarization that the town had been experiencing of late.

"I'm hoping the differences that were shown during the election will be put behind us because the town has a lot of work to do," Gold said.

"We have to move on," he continued. "Like every town we're fiscally challenged. We have to come together and make this town work."