ESSEX — New Town Clerk Ann Dunne reported polling activity was light Monday for the town election.
“It’s not busy,” she said midafternoon. “It’s slow. It’s been a low turnout.”
There were nine races, not one contested, and eight candidates, on the ballot. There was no candidate for a Housing Authority seat.
At 10 a.m. Monday, only 12 had cast ballots in-person at the polls inside the Public Safety Building on John Wise Avenue. At that time, about 100 absentee and advance voting ballots had been tabulated.
By the time the polls closed at 8 p.m., 259, or 8.7%, of the town’s 2,9652 registered voters had cast ballots. All candidates and one of two write-in campaigners won seats.
Incumbents re-elected for another three-year term were Selectman Peter Phippen, 229 votes, and Manchester Essex Regional School Committee member Katrina S. Koch Sundquist with 223 votes compared to write-in competitor Nina McKinnon’s 8 votes.
Elected to the Board of Assessors was Michael Cataldo, 225 votes for a one-year unexpired term, and Tina Lane, 223 votes for a three-year term.
Travis Good earned 230 votes in his bid for a three-year term on the Board of Health.
The newest faces on the Board of Library Trustees are Michelle Anne Stefka, who earned 229 votes for a two-year term on the board, and Jennifer Mayer picked up 232 votes for a three-year seat.
Two five-year seats on the Planning Board will be filled by Ariel Fernando Brain, who received 225 votes, and write-in candidate Elizabeth Walsh, whose name was penned in by 54 people.
There were no candidates for Housing Authority listed on the ballot, but 21 voters penned a name. No winner was announced Monday night.
Former Town Clerk Pamela Thorne, who was among the poll workers greeting voters when they arrived at the polls. previously said that in the event no votes are recorded for ballot races with no candidates, selectmen will consider appointing a candidate.
Dunne said she was glad to come onboard during the town election versus starting during the national election coming in November.
“It’s good I came in at this time,” she said. “It’s a little bit easier to get to know the election workers.”
Voter Shirley Bradbury addressed the low turnout.
“I think participation is down everywhere,” she said. “Everyone has a lot on their minds. But it’s really important the townspeople get involved. It’s getting people to know they should participate in the process.”
Jessie Palm said voting in the town election is important because it affects local government choices such as town administration, police, fire and the schools.
“I think everyone should participate in local elections,” she said. “It’s where the important decisions are made that affect us.”
Resident Whitney Buckley said interest in the Essex election may be have been affected by the fact there were no competitive races on the ballot.
“I think it’s hard when we don’t have any contested races,” she said. “Uncontested elections don’t get people fired up.”
Posie Mansfield, who came by to vote, grew up in Essex.
“I think it’s important for residents to vote,” she said. “We have to have a voice in our government, whether we agree or disagree. We have to be good stewards to our community. We need to speak up.”
Stephen Hagan can be reached at 978-675-2708 or at shagan@northofboston.com.