All But One Incumbent Wins In Salem Election

SALEM, MA — At-Large City Councilor Elaine Milo was the only incumbent to lose her seat in Tuesday's municipal election. Milo finished sixth in an eight-eay races for four seats up for re-election. The other three incumbents in the race — Domingo J. Dominguez and Arthur Sargent —finished second and fourth, respectively. Former Salem Police Capt. Conrad J. Prosniewski was the top fnisher with 16 percent of the vote. Ty Hapworth finished third and will be the other new face on council.

Aside from Milo, it was a good night for incumbents in Salem. Ward 1 City Councilor Robert McCarthy defeated James Willis and Ward 4 City Councilor Tim Flynn had defeated Michael Cusick. Ward 7 Salem City Councilor Stephen Dibble held onto his seat, defeating Andrew Varela 620-332 in Tuesday's election.

There will be two other new faces on city council. In Ward 6, Megan Riccardi will replace Beth Gerard on City Council after defeating Jerry Ryan by a single vote, 611-610. Gerard did not run for reelection. And in Ward 3 Patti Morsillo defeated Robert Camire in a race where the incumbent, Lisa Peterson, did not run for reelection.

Ryan said he will ask for a recount. In September's preliminary election, Ricciardi beat Ryan by four votes.

In a six-way race for three seats up for reelection on the school committee, incumbents Jim Fleming and Mary Manning were re-elected. Newcomer Kristin Pangallo was the top vote getter in the race and will join the school board.

Voter turnout was 22 percent at 6 p.m., two hours before polls closed. In 2015, the last time there was a local election without a mayoral race or state and federal races, turnout was 25 percent. In 2017, when there was a contested mayoral race and the sanctuary city ballot measure, turnout was 41 percent.

Election Results

Unofficial results. Winners printed in bold type. Candidates for re-election are marked with an asterisk (*).

City Council, At-Large

Four seats up for re-election.

City Council, Ward 1

One seat up for re-election.

City Council, Ward 2

One seat up for re-election. Stacia Kraft ran a write-in campaign for the Ward 2 city council seat.

City Council, Ward 3

One seat up for re-election.

City Council, Ward 4

One seat up for re-election.

City Council, Ward 5

One seat up for re-election.

City Council, Ward 6

One seat up for re-election.

City Council, Ward 7

One seat up for re-election.

School Committee

Three seats up for re-election.