Marblehead elections fill several boards

MARBLEHEAD – It was a good year for electronic campaigning in Marblehead.The new member on the Recreation and Park Commission, retired pilot Charles Nyren, and the new Board of Health member, health professional Michelle Gottlieb, both used email in their campaign to get out the vote and Gottlieb had a Facebook group.Nyren finished fifth in the running for Recreation and Park Commission. Incumbents Derek Norcross, Linda Rice Collins, Charles "Chip" Osborne and Sam Ganglani were re-elected with vote totals of 1,324, 1,264, 1,152 and 1,148 and Nyren received 1,077 votes. Their terms will last a year. Challengers Skip Likins and Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy fell short this time.Gottlieb led the race in Precincts 1-6, finishing with a commanding 1,120 votes to a three-year seat on the Board of Health. Businessman Matthew Herring received 659 votes and lawyer Matthew Adam Karlyn got 173.Nyren said he hadn’t campaigned on any one issue. "I look forward to working with the board any way I can," he said. "The number 1 issue is we’ve got to work together again."Gottlieb watched the results at Abbot Hall Monday evening with outgoing member Carl Goodman and her children, Sam and Talia.Her election to the Board of Health and the election of unopposed candidate Eurim Chun to the School Committee means that both boards will have women majorities. For the health board it is a first. For the school board it is the first time in 14 years."There’s a long tradition of female leadership in the health field," Gottlieb said.Chun and School Committee Chairman Amy Drinker said they hadn’t given the majority change any thought.Chun said she would look for an opportunity to help new Marblehead Village School Principal Michael Hanna to succeed. "He has great ideas and a positive vision and I think he’ll do a great job," she said.The Trustees of the Abbot Public Library will maintain a female majority. Chairman Philip Sweeney has been the only man on the six-member board for some time.In the race for two three-year seats on the Trustees of the Abbot Public Library, challenger Phyllis Smith topped the race with 1,150 votes, followed by incumbent Peggy Geist Blass with 826. Incumbent Susan Indresano received 782 votes and challenger Barbara Collins Rosenberg received 571.Social services professional Pamela Foye, a newcomer, won a seat on the Housing Authority, besting senior technology firm consultant Kris Larson 1,031-524.