Politics & Government

Election Results in Somerville

The Somerville Board of Aldermen will have five new members, and the Somerville School Committee will have three new members.

The shape of Somerville city government changed Tuesday as voters elected five new members to the Somerville Board of Aldermen and three new members to the Somerville School Committee.

On the Board of Aldermen Matthew McLaughlin in Ward 1, Robert McWatters in Ward 3, Mark Niedergang in Ward 5, Katjana Ballantyne in Ward 7 and Mary Jo Rossetti, who ran citywide for an at-large seat, will all be fresh faces around the "horseshoe"—the U-shaped table at which aldermen sit during City Hall meetings.

In the race for Somerville School Committee, Dan Futrell in Ward 2, Laura Pitone in Ward 5 and Carrie Normand in Ward 7 will all be new to the committee.

See the complete election totals here.

Nearly half of Somerville's aldermen will be new ... 


The change is particularly dramatic in the Somerville Board of Aldermen, which has 11 members. The five new faces will make up nearly half the board.

So-called "progressive" candidates will also occupy five seats on the Somerville Board of Aldermen. The Progressive Democrats of Somerville endorsed Niedergang, Ballantyne and McLaughlin along with incumbent aldermen Rebekah Gewirtz, who ran unopposed in Ward 6, and William White, who won reelection to one of four at-large seats.

... sort of


Despite the influx of new blood, it would be a mistake to suggest voters were revolting against incumbent candidates.

Every incumbent running for office won reelection, except for Ward 5 Alderman Courtney O'Keefe.

But that race was the exception that proves the rule. O'Keefe was appointed to the Somerville Board of Aldermen in April, when former Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donnovan stepped down. She had served for about six months as of election day. Meanwhile, Niedergang had served as Ward 5's School Committee representative since 2006, having been elected four times.

Similarly, Rossetti, though new to the Board of Aldermen, is not new to elected office. She's been elected to the School Committee, representing Ward 7, seven times and is currently the committee's chairman.

McWatters, before winning election, worked as the Board of Aldermen's clerk of committees for 18 years. As such, he's been a regular face at meetings and has intimate knowledge about the workings of the board. 

Also reelected to the Board of Aldermen were at-large candidates Dennis Sullivan and Jack Connolly, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston and Ward 4 Alderman Tony Lafuente. Heuston and Lafuente ran unopposed.

On the School Committee Adam Sweeting in Ward 3, Christine Theberge Rafal in Ward 4 and Paul Bockelman in Ward 6 were reelected. In Ward 1, Stephen Roix, who was appointed to the School Committee when the previous representative stepped down, will return to the School Committee, having won election for the first time.

Again, you can see the complete election totals here.

Curtatone to serve a sixth term


Lost in the shuffle is the fact Joseph Curtatone won an unprecedented sixth term as Somerville's mayor. Curtatone ran unopposed. Assuming he serves at least part of his sixth term, he will have served more consecutive years in office than any mayor in Somerville's history—longer than Eugene Brune and longer than Michael Capuano.

Curtatone had been eyeing a run for governor, but in mid-October he decided not to run, saying, in part, "We innovate more in local government and we get to see how government policies affect people at the ground level."

UPDATES FROM ELECTION DAY

11:17 p.m. 
According to results from the Somerville Election Department, here are the winners in Somerville's contested races:

Alderman at-large:
1st place: Dennis Sullivan
2nd place: William White
3rd place: John Connolly
4th place: Mary Jo Rossetti

Alderman Ward 1: Matthew McLaughlin

Alderman Ward 3:
Robert McWatters

Alderman Ward 5: 
Mark Niedergang

Alderman Ward 7: 
Katjana Ballantyne

School Committee Ward 1:
Stephen Roix

School Committee Ward 2:
Dan Futrell

School Committee Ward 5:
Laura Pitone

10:20 p.m.:
The election office said they were still waiting for votes from one precinct before releasing the results of the Somerville election.

On Twitter, Stephen Roix said he was winner in the School Committee race in Ward 1.

In the at-large race, Dennis Sullivan, on Twitter, wrote, "Thank you everyone for the support. I'm looking forward to returning to the #Somerville BOA to improve our city!"

In Ward 5, Mark Niedergang posted to Twitter, "Thank you all so much for all of your support. I am honored for the opportunity to be Ward 5 Alderman."

Again, these results are not confirmed. Somerville Patch will post results from the city's election office when they are available.

9:15 p.m.:
 Although official election results were not yet released as of 9:15 p.m., candidates in several of Somerville's key races were declaring victory on Twitter.

In Ward 7, Katjana Balantyne claimed victory, saying, "Thank you Ward 7 residents!!!" She posted a new page on her website thanking outgoing Ward 7 Alderman Robert Trane, who did not run this year, and her opponent, Joe Capuano.

In Ward 5, Courtney O'Keefe conceded defeat to Mark Niedergang, posting on Twitter, "I would like to formally congratulate Mark on his victory for Ward 5 Alderman and thank all of my volunteers."

Meanwhile, the Progressive Democrats of Somerville posted to Twitter congratulations to Matthew McLauglin in Ward 1, who ran for alderman against Elio LoRusso.

McLaughlin posted a reply, saying, "Thank you for all the support! I can't wait to continuing to work with all of you all!"

The Progressive Democrats also said Laura Pitone was elected as the new School Committee representative in Ward 5, defeating Ross Richmond.

In the race for School Committee in Ward 2, Dan Futrell also declared victory, writing, "638-203 ... thank you Ward 2 for your trust. I am humbled and honored. Thank you." He ran against Michael Nionakis.

Somerville Patch has not confirmed these results and will post more official results as soon as they're available from the city's election office.

ORIGINAL STORY

Tuesday is election day in Somerville. This year's election, more so than in recent years, could be a transformative event in Somerville politics.

At least four—and as many as nine—new aldermen will be elected, and three or four new School Committee members will be elected. These officials, depending on their position, will make decisions about the city and school budgets, property taxes, zoning codes, the direction of Somerville's schools and whether or not events like HONK! and Fluff Fest can take place.

Their decisions will impact if and how Davis Square gets redesigned and what Union Square will look like after the Green Line arrives.

In other words, you should take a few moments to vote.


Somerville Patch will provide updates about the election on this page, so check in later today.


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