NORTH ANDOVER — Four brand new members join the School Committee and Board of Selectmen today.
Tracy Watson and Planning Board Chairman Richard Nardella won two open spots on the Board of Selectmen over Donald Stewart and Joe Edward Smith. Watson gained the most votes with 2,032, followed by Nardella, who got 1,864 votes, in an election that brought out 19 percent of the town's 17,454 voters.
For the School Committee, Stanley Limpert and Chris Nobile campaigned together and won together. Only seven votes separated them — Limpert with 2,086 and Nobile with 2,079. Michael Quinlan came in third with 1,282 votes.
Residents also voted overwhelmingly in favor of a nonbinding question on whether the town should replace the Open Town Meeting form of government. The question, which brought out passionate arguments on both sides during the campaign, received 1,725 yes and 1,220 against.
New faces on the Board of Selectmen
Watson and Nardella replace James Xenakis and Tom Licciardello, both of whom did not seek re-election.
Watson's enthusiasm came through last night even though her voice was gone from a long day of holding signs at the polls.
"I'm exhausted from campaigning, but full of energy to start work," said Watson at her house where supporters gathered.
Her first meeting will be Monday, when she will be thrown into work less than two months before the May 13 Town Meeting. Watson said she is eager to work on a couple of issues, including setting up a formal committee to study the town charter and advocating for the town manager's capital plan, which includes building a new police station and a new preschool building.
She said another issue that is important to her is getting Community Preservation Act money to put affordable apartments into the former nursing home building behind the police station. Town Meeting is expected to debate an article that would give over $1 million for the project, known as Stevens Corner. Watson, a property manager for Wood Ridge Homes Inc. and a member of the Housing Partnership Committee, said affordable housing is an issue dear to her.
Nardella said he is ready to take the work he has done for 18 years on the Planning Board and apply it to the Board of Selectmen to bring more businesses to town.
"I will continue trying to site beneficial commercial development," he said, surrounded by family and friends at his home.
Nardella said the Planning Board is already recommending some zoning changes at this year's Town Meeting, including a change that would allow more commercial development on Route 125 opposite the former Lucent building.
"I want to make sure those are brought to Town Meeting and pass," he said.
Stewart, a former selectman, finished third, but said he will still be around. Stewart spent 15 years as selectman until he lost a re-election bid two years ago and is still a regular at almost every meeting.
"I still have my opinion and voice. I won't go away," he said. "There's still a large population that believes in me."
Smith could not be reached for comment last night.
School Committee pledges teamwork
Limpert and Nobile ran with each other instead of against each other, a tactic Limpert said ultimately helped them get elected. The two were seen holding signs supporting both candidates. Nobile said it didn't start out that way when they each launched independent campaigns, but he said since they held similar views and similar support from parents, their campaign grew together.
They succeed William Kelly and Timothy Pybus, who did not seek re-election.
"This is an affirmation that people want us to work cooperatively," said Nobile, who will be joining Limpert tomorrow for a workshop with School Committee Chairwoman Barbara Whidden so they can get caught up on all the issues.
Nobile beamed last night as well-wishers shook his hand at North Andover High School, where results were posted.
"It's a sizzle," he said. "It's exciting."
Limpert said he was proud of the campaign because there wasn't much fighting or arguing among the three candidates.
"Teamwork was the theme," he said. "I don't see why that wouldn't continue once we are on the committee."
He said his No. 1 priority is getting on the search committee for the next superintendent. That search is expected to start next September.
Michael Quinlan, who finished third, said he offered voters a choice to do things differently and they decided to keep things the same.
"My message didn't resonate with the people of North Andover," he said. "I wish the victors my best. They have a lot of work to do, and they have some tough decisions to work on. They ran a good campaign, and I admire their victory."
