Lynnfield Board of Selectmen race a blowout

LYNNFIELD – The number of voters in Lynnfield’s town elections Monday may have been rather small, a mere 14.5 percent to be exact, but they certainly spoke loudly when it came to choosing the new face to sit on the Board of Selectmen.Vying for the single spot made available since Darlene Drutman did not seek reelection this term were Finance Committee member David Nelson and Economic Development and Housing Advisory Committee Chairman Charles Allen Merritt, Jr. With more than three times the votes, Merritt took the win. He received an overwhelming 958 votes, whereas Nelson received 275.Accountant Michael Craffey will fill the remaining year of former School Committee Lisa Shannon’s three-year term. Shannon announced her resignation earlier this year due to personal and professional conflicting schedules. Craffey went up against school guidance counselor Jessica Goldberg for the position, and the results were relatively close, however. Craffey took the cake with 677 votes. Goldberg came in just shy with 507.Three familiar names that appeared on this year’s ballot ran unopposed for re-election: Richard Simmons, Jr. was re-elected as a member to the Board of Assessors; Robert Calimari will continue on the Board of Library Trustees; and David E. Miller will withhold his position as Town Moderator, as will Planning Board member Richard Dalton.James Fagan will join Craffey as the newest members to the School Committee. Fagan ran uncontested to take the place of Karen Culbert for a three-year term.And, lastly, Barbara Casey, who also ran unopposed, will take over Anthony Grasso’s role on the Housing Authority.