Hubbard, Quirk win School Committee seats in West Boylston

WEST BOYLSTON - With two open seats on the School Committee, voters have chosen two new members in the June 2 election.

In the only contested race, Nancy Hubbard and Christine Quirk earned seats on the school board with 429 and 366 votes, respectively. Jacqueline Leonardo received 275 and Richard Simmarano received 171, to round out voting.

A total of 671 voters cast ballots, with 490 the result of early voting and absentee ballots. That is a turnout of just over 12 percent, based on 5,583 registered voters.

The coronavirus social distancing - and shorter poll hours - did not seem to make a major difference for turnout. Town Clerk Elaine Novia said in the last eight years, turnout for town elections has been between 400 and 1,000 voters. She told selectmen the higher amounts were for elections with contested selectmen's races.

"I would like to say thank you to everyone who voted. I am honored and excited to serve the town of West Boylston and will work with integrity and care," Hubbard said.

"It’s a privilege to have been chosen to serve on the School Committee," Quirk said. "I’m excited to be able to give to the system that has been so good to my kids."