NORTH ANDOVER — Hillary Clinton would be president, casinos would open in Massachusetts, and North Andover would stick with Town Meeting if Democrats in town had their say.
At least, those were the results of a straw poll taken at yesterday's Democratic Town Committee breakfast, which brought together more than 100 Democrats, candidates for town office and state politicians.
"It can be a quite reasonable indication of how elections will go," Mark DiSalvo of the Democratic Town Committee said of the straw poll. He added that the poll has no scientific value, however, and represents just the opinions of those who attended the breakfast and wanted to vote.
Whether the town should consider changing its form of town government from Town Meeting led to the biggest discussion, with resident George Vozeolas encouraging residents to look at a change and Town Moderator Charles Salisbury defending the annual tradition.
Vozeolas backs a nonbinding question on the town's March 25 ballot that asks residents if they would consider replacing Town Meeting with another system, which could include a mayoral form of government.
He said recent Town Meetings are an example of why they don't work because either too many people show up to have a productive discussion or too few show up to be a true representation of the town.
One example, Vozeolas said, is the Special Town Meeting in July 2006 when more than 3,000 residents attended and voted down a trash fee that would have provided more money to schools.
Vozeolas said that meeting was so contentious because there were so many people, no real discussion could take place. At other times, he said, attendance is as low as 200 people.
Salisbury said those examples are extreme. From behind the podium, the moderator said, he has watched as discussion has taken place and residents have been able to give persuasive, insightful arguments that make people think, and ultimately vote, differently on an issue than they would have before attending the meeting.
In the straw poll, 48 people supported considering another form of local government and 55 were opposed.
For the local elections, the poll predicted that Tracy Watson would win one of two open seats on the Board of Selectmen. Richard Nardella and Donald Stewart tied, each receiving 20 percent of the vote for the second seat. Joe Edward Smith received 8 percent of the vote.
For the two open School Committee seats, Stanley Limpert and Chris Nobile were predicted to be the winners, with 48 percent supporting Limpert and 47 percent backing Nobile. Michael Quinlan received 6 percent of the vote.
Congressman John Tierney, D-Salem, was the main speaker at the event, which was also attended by state Sen. Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, and state Reps. David Torrisi, D-North Andover, and Barbara L'Italien, D-Andover.
The breakfast raises money for seniors graduating from North Andover High School. It is also a place to recognize the town's Democrat of the Year. This year, the committee chose Bryan Hanssen, secretary of the Town Democrat Committee.
The Boston University graduate grew up in Pembroke and moved to North Andover with his wife, Kerry, about 10 years ago. He is the managing editor of the members magazine for the American Meteorological Society.
DiSalvo said Hanssen is someone who is always working hard in the background to make sure things get done, work that isn't always recognized by the public.
Hanssen said he was too surprised to speak when they presented him with the award and also a gift for his soon-to-be-born son.
Hanssen's mother, Janet, said her son wasn't involved in politics when he was younger, but she described him as very dedicated to the Town Committee. She said he is someone who always does more than he is asked.
"Bryan likes a challenge," she added.
