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Date: 10/27/2021
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Voters in West Springfield will decide contested races for Town Council and School Committee on their Nov. 2 ballots.
There is no contest for mayor, as incumbent William C. Reichelt, seeking his third term, is running unopposed. Town Clerk Otto Frizzell said last week that he expects turnout around 25 percent, which would be higher than the past two town elections, at 17 percent in 2019 and 19 percent in 2017.
Frizzell noted that West Springfield will continue to use the consolidated polling places that debuted in spring 2020, with voting booths in just two locations in town, rather than the previous four. Precincts 1 and 2, which include the downtown, Merrick and Memorial Avenue neighborhoods, will vote at the West Springfield Senior Center, 128 Park St. Precincts 3 through 8, which cover the rest of the town, will vote at West Springfield High School, 425 Piper Rd. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Residents may check their voter status and find their assigned polling place at www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch.
Residents of any precinct can vote early, in person, during business hours this week. The early voting station at the West Springfield Public Library, 200 Park St., will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Oct. 29. West Springfield also offered voting by mail this year, but the deadline to request a ballot was Oct. 27.
Seven candidates are competing for five at-large seats on the Town Council. Listed in the order in which they will appear on the ballot, they are Brian J. Clune of Bridle Path Road, incumbent; Kenneth P. Ritucci of Autumn Road; Sean Powers of Ely Avenue, incumbent; Mark C. Follett of High Meadow Drive; Brian J. Griffin of Nelson Street, incumbent; Jaime L. Smith of Allison Lane; and Edward C. Sullivan of Havenhurst Road, incumbent. Only four incumbents are running, as current Councilor George R. Kelly chose not to run for re-election. Councilors serve two-year terms.
Eight candidates are on the ballot for the six seats on the School Committee, all of which are elected at large for two-year terms. Listed in ballot order, they are Nancy M. Farrell of Beacon Hill Road, incumbent; Robert M. Mancini of Lancaster Avenue; Kathleen A. Alevras of Westfield Street, incumbent; Colleen Marcus of Forest Glen, incumbent; William P. Garvey of Amostown Road, incumbent; Diana Coyne of Ohio Avenue; Kira Thompson of Orchardview Street; and Antonio R. Sorcinelli of Sikes Avenue. The School Committee is guaranteed to pick up at least two new members, as incumbents Pat Garbacik and Jennifer Marcus did not run for re-election.
The mayor and all four district Town Council candidates are running unopposed. The only newcomer in the group is Michael J. LaFlamme of Kings Highway, the sole candidate for an open seat in District 2 (precincts 3 and 4). Incumbent district councilors running for re-election are Michael S. Eger of Mercury Court (District 1, consisting of precincts 1 and 2); Anthony R. DiStefano of Audubon Avenue (District 3, precincts 5 and 6); and Daniel M. O’Brien of Morgan Road (District 4, precincts 7 and 8). LaFlamme will take the place of current District 2 Councilor Nathan A. Bech, who chose not to run for re-election.
The candidates in contested races were profiled in The Reminder earlier this month. The articles can be found at www.thereminder.com/localnews/west-springfield.