Milford 2023 Election Turnout Among Lowest In Years

MILFORD, MA — Unofficial results have been released in Milford's 2023 election, which featured a competitive race for two seats on the school committee, and two separate competitive planning board races.

But the three contests in Tuesday's election were not enough to draw many voters. Turnout was estimated at about 9 percent — or about 1,700 of the town's nearly 18,000 registered voters — which is the lowest in several years.

In 2022, turnout was just below 10 percent with three contested races on the ballot. A slightly higher 12 percent turned out in 2021 with six contested races.

The high-water mark came in 2020, when 33 percent of voters turned out. There were four contested races on the ballot that year, but also a ballot question dealing with extending health benefits to the surviving spouses of deceased town employees. In 2019, turnout hit 13 percent with five contested races.

Milford also featured a ballot question in a special election in 2017. To vote on banning marijuana retailers in town, 30 percent of voters turned out to enact the ban.

Here are the unofficial results from Tuesday's election:

Select Board (one seat, 3-year term)

• Thomas O'Loughlin (i) — 1,288

School Committee (two seats, 3-year term)

• Brendan Rickert — 787 (projected winner)
• Martin Montoya — 700
• Michael Aghajanian (i) — 754 (projected winner)
• Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. — 321

Water Commissioner (one seat, 2-year term

• Jonathan M. Bruce — 1,145

Water Commissioner (one seat, 3-year term

• Philip J. Ciaramicoli — 1,255

Water Commissioner (one seat, 1-year term)

• Jamie Luchini — 1,280

Town Moderator (3-year term)

• Michelangelo BonTempo (i) — 1,361

Town Clerk (3-year term)

• Amy Hennessy Neves (i) — 1,447

Planning Board (one seat, 3-year unexpired term)

• Michael Visconti — 509
• John Ted DePaolo Jr. — 1,018 (projected winner)

Planning Board (one seat, 5-year term)

• Scott Vecchiolla — 644
• Christopher Wilson — 814 (projected winner)

Sewer Commissioner (one seat, 3-year term)

• Leonardo Morcone (i) — 1,329

Board of Assessors (one seat, 3-year term)

• Steven Borges — 1,207

Board of Library Trustees (two seats, 3-year term)

• Edward Bertorelli (i) — 1,180
• Mary Frances Best — 1,099

Board of Health (one seat, 3-year term)

• Leonard Izzo Sr. — 1,328

Vernon Grove Trustees (two seats, 3-year term)

• Scott Crisafulli (i) — 1,273

Highway Surveyor (one seat, 3-year term)

• Scott Crisafulli (i) — 1,341

Park Commissioner (one seat, 3-year term)

• Paul Braza (i) — 1,292

Tree Warden (3-year term)

• Charles Reneau (i) — 1,327