Salem School Committee Incumbents Ward Off Challengers

SALEM, MA — Problems in the Salem Public School system — including the resignation of the superintendent and three principals at Salem High School since March — prompted five challengers to join two incumbents in the race for three school committee seats that are up for reelection this year. But Tuesday's preliminary election results suggest that the 2019 municipal election isn't shaping up to be a referendum on the school committee.

Those two incumbents — Mary Manning and Jim Fleming — finished first and third, respectively, in Tuesday's voting. If the preliminary election results hold up on Nov. 5, Kristin Pangallo, who finished second Tuesday, would claim the third open seat on the school committee. Incumbent Kristine Wilson is not seeking reelection.

But Beth Anne Cornell, who finished fourth, is within striking distance. She had 1,689 votes Tuesday to Felming's 1,703. The other candidates making the cut Tuesday, Donna Fritz (1,373 votes) and Jennifer Brown (1,130) were further back in the field.

Tuesday's preliminary election eliminated one of the seven candidates from the field Stephe Beauparlant finished last with 935 votes.

2019 Salem Preliminary Election Results (Unofficial)

Three seats up for reelection; top six vote recipients in preliminary election will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 5 general election. Candidates for reelection are marked with an asterisk (*). Winners are listed in bold type.

Note: Incumbent Kristine Wilson is not seeking reelection. School Committee members Manny Cruz and Ana Nuncio are not up for reelection this year.