METHUEN — Turnout was strong in a number of precincts this morning, as voters headed to the polls to pick candidates for mayor, city council and school committee.

At the Tenney Grammar School, where voters from precincts 3, 7, 9 and 12 all voted, the voting booths were nearly full, and at certain times people had to wait to cast their ballots, according to poll workers there.

In Precinct 7, about 286 people had voted as of 11:15 a.m.

"Valley people always come out to vote," said Precinct 7 Warden Ida Leone. "They come in buses, they come with their walkers. It's amazing."

In precinct 3 had 252 votes, 9 had 315 and 12 had 258.

One voter, Scott Rutherford of Ayer Street, said he chose mayoral challenger Al DiNuccio, who's up against incumbent William Manzi III.

"It's time for a change," Rutherford said, adding that he feels Manzi has mishandled problems with the police, fire and school departments. "Nobody's taking care of the school staff."

Peter Parrino, also voting at Tenney, said he thinks Manzi will win by a huge margin. "Overwhelmingly," he predicted. "I like Bill. He's a good man."

At the nearby Timony Grammar School, location for voters from precincts 1, 2, 6 and 10, turnout was equally brisk.

Precinct 2 had 97 voters as of about midday. In the September primary only 67 people voted the entire day, according to one poll worker.

Precinct 6 had 254, also better than the primary, while Precinct 10 had 260.

Millie Lombardi, one of the poll workers in Precinct 10, said she thought turnout "could be better. We thought it would be a lot busier."

Several people approached outside the polls refused to divulge who they voted for, saying that the city was too small and that their neighbors would be upset with their votes.

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