LONGMEADOW — The town’s June 11 election decided contested positions within the Select Board and School Committee while other seats ran with solo or no candidates listed on the ballot.
Andrew Lam will join incumbent Joshua Levine on the Select Board, Lam amassing 1,692 votes to Levine’s 1,149 and first-time candidate Leah Petersen’s 1,049.
Lam offered his gratitude to the community and fellow candidates.
“I am very grateful for the support of so many in town and sincerely thank Josh Levine and Leah Peterson for running great campaigns and for all the ways they serve Longmeadow,” he said. “I’m excited to get to work on behalf of our town and my focus will be prudent fiscal management, maintaining educational excellence in our schools, and infrastructure maintenance, including our roads and town buildings.”
Lam also expressed his support for the town’s progress toward the construction of a new middle school.
Levine stated he is looking ahead to the next phase of responsibility.
“I am proud of my service to the people of Longmeadow and am grateful for their continued trust in me with this reelection vote,” he said. “We have difficult budgetary decisions to make every year, but we also have some exciting future prospects in municipal fiber and a beautiful new middle school. I look forward to serving our town for years to come.”
The race for School Committee sees current members Jamie Hensch and Mary Kathleen Keane maintain their seats. Hensch continues his five years of service while Keane, who did not campaign due to illness, does not expect to continue her term.
Town Clerk Timothy Donnelly declined to speculate on circumstances surrounding Keane’s status as of press time.
Challenger Jose “J.J.” Rodriguez, who has held roles within the town, praised the process and congratulated his opponents.
“Our election shows Longmeadow’s willingness to open its doors to diversity and Integrity. The election of an Asian American to the Select Board, an extremely capable woman (Mary Keane) to the School Committee and another extraordinary woman (Rebecca Townsend) as our town moderator is a testament to the courage and commitment of our community. I am pleasantly surprised by the amount of people who approached me and offered their support.”
Rodriguez vowed to collaborate with town activities and share his thoughts and concerns.
While a Housing Authority seat will be determined by write-in votes, Christopher Legiadre will sit on the Planning Board after running unopposed.
Townsend, who ran without opposition, retains her position as moderator.
“I am honored to have earned Longmeadow’s voters’ confidence in serving another term as moderator,” she said in a statement. “I appreciate every vote. And I look forward to getting to work interviewing Finance Committee candidates this June and planning the special town meeting for fall.”
More information on town election results can be found at longmeadowma.gov.
