WEST SPRINGFIELD — Election Day was a busy one in West Springfield as voters were asked to vote for mayor, City Council and School Committee, along with 16 ballot questions.
On the day, 6,521 voters — or around 30% of the town’s registered voters — cast a ballot. Early voting was popular, with 3,100 votes cast before the polls opened on election day.
In the biggest race of the day, Mayor William Reichelt squared off with Councilor Daniel O’Brien in his bid for reelection, winning 4,618-1,783. For fuller coverage of this race, check out the story on the front page of this edition of The Reminder.
In the race for councilor at large, seven candidates faced off for five seats. Both Council President Sean Powers and Councilor Brian Clune did not run for reelection, while O’Brien vacated his seat in his mayoral bid. Brian Griffin received 4,126 votes, Jaime Smith received 3,508 votes, James Welch received 3,459 votes. Diana Coyne received 3,276 votes and David Sypek received 2,571 votes.
Coyne’s name will seem familiar as she currently serves on the town’s School Committee, while Sypek is a newcomer to the council.
Elisa Olivo Robles and Brett Berchin were unsuccessful in their bids for councilor at large, receiving 2,120 votes and 1,942 votes respectively.
In the district races, District 2 Councilor Michael LaFlamme, District 3 Councilor Anthony DiStefano and District 4 Councilor Frederick Connor ran unopposed. In District 1 William Forfa faced a challenge from James Mirolli, who he defeated 275-210.
Turning over to the School Committee, the race was uncontested with six candidates filling the six open seats. Julie Anne Wise received 3,800 votes, Colleen Marcus received 3,798 votes, Kathy Alevras received 3,786 votes, Robert Mancini received 3,632 votes, Kira Thompson received 3,464 votes and Alexander Cerbo received 3,173 votes.
Cerbo, a newcomer to the committee, will take Coyne’s seat that she vacated in her successful Town Council bid.
While many of the ballot questions proposed as part of the town’s charter review passed with relative ease, one failed and another came within 36 votes of not passing.
Question 7 would have removed the ban on people connected to the alcohol industry serving on the Board of License Commissioners as long as they did not have any connection to the sale of alcoholic beverages in town. This measure failed with 2,820 yes votes and 3,233 no votes.
Question 11 will remove the voter turnout requirement for a citizens’ initiative petition to take effect following a ballot question. Previously, the town required a voter turnout of 20% and a majority of the votes cast for the measure to pass; this is no longer the case as voters approved the initiative 3,049-3,013.
The elected candidates will begin their terms in January.
