Election Day Arrives in Tewksbury With Town Moderator Race At Center Stage

Editor's Note: Though Donna Marie Robitaille is not on the ballot, she is running an active write-in campaign in hopes of gaining election to the Planning Board.

After much debate, the race for Town Moderator will be decided on Saturday while several other residents will be elected to new positions.

Saturday is Tewksbury's Annual Town Election, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at a variety of polling locations around town.

In the main event, Doug Sears takes on Jerome Selissen to determine who will be the next Tewksbury Town Moderator. That is the only contested race on the ballot.

During the municipal election in 2013, a total of 2,750 residents came out to the polls. That is good for about 13 percent of the registered voters in Tewksbury.

Town Clerk Denise Graffeo said she doesn't make predictions for what she believes the turnout will be, but added that election staff is prepared for whatever number of residents come out to vote.

Graffeo stressed the importance of residents making their choice at the ballot box, even if there is just one contested race.

"These are the people that run our town and make very important decisions for our lives in in Tewksbury," she said. "They are making a difference in our quality of life."

In addition to the race for Town Moderator, the following candidates are running for uncontested positions:

• Bruce Panilaitis -- Board of Selectmen
• Brian Dick (Incumbent) -- School Committee
• Patrick Joyce (Incumbent) -- Library Trustee
• Robert Homeyer (Incumbent) -- Library Trustee
  
• Louise A. Gearty (Incumbent) -- Housing Authority
• Charles Roux (Incumbent) -- Board of Health
• Vincent Fratalia -- Planning Board

Check back with Tewksbury Patch after polls close for results from Annual Town Election.