Wareham's election results are in, with few surprises

Apr 5, 2017

The results of Wareham's uncontested Town Election are in, with few surprises in store.

All candidates will officially join or return to the boards they ran for, as no write-in campaigns were waged.

The turnout of all registered voters in Wareham and Onset was roughly 2 percent. Only 330 voters showed at polling stations throughout the day, out of a total of 14,841 registered voters. Selectman candidate Peter Teitelbaum attributed the low turnout to the uncontested races and poor weather.

A small group of candidates were on hand at Wareham Town Hall Tuesday night to witness the election results firsthand. Teitelbaum chatted with Town Administrator Derek Sullivan as he waited to see the final numbers. New School Committee members Laurie Spear and Joyce Bacchiocchi also waited - Bacchiocchi had a large family entourage on hand.

Teitelbaum and Judith Whiteside will return to the Board of Selectmen, with 281 and 287 votes respectively. "She got me by five!" Teitelbaum said in mock distress as he read the final results. Sullivan helpfully pointed out that in fact, Whiteside had bested him by six.

James McCahill and Priscilla Porter will also return to the Board of Assessors, with 276 and 284 votes respectively.

Laurie Spear and Joyce Bacchiocchi will join the Wareham School Committee April 5 for their first meeting, having replaced longtime retiring members Cliff Sylvia and Mel Lazarus. Bacciocchi received 292 total votes, and Spear received 262.

Incumbent Sewer Commissioners Donna Bronk and Malcolm White will continue on with the board. Bronk received 274 votes, and White received 290. Bronk will also return to the Housing Authority with 286 total votes.

Incumbent Wareham Constable Steven Coughlin will also continue, having earned 266 total votes in the uncontested race.

Teitelbaum, Spear and Bacchiocchi were all sworn into their positions after results were tallied Tuesday night.