PEABODY ― There will be a new look to the City Council as three new councilors — two of them women — swept to victory Tuesday night in the city’s first biennial election since the start of the pandemic.
“Ward 3 was ready for change and today the residents made their voices heard. I look forward to serving the residents and working together to improve our ward and the city as a whole,” said challenger Stephanie Peach, a 2007 Peabody High graduate who defeated longtime councilor James Moutsoulas, 638 to 404, sweeping all three precincts. “We worked hard all election season and made sure the vote got out.”
Ward 4 challenger Julie Daigle, a former Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce executive director and city treasurer, defeated incumbent Edward R. Charest, 776 to 674. While the candidates split four precincts, Daigle dominated precinct 4.1 (345-251) and precinct 4.3A ― Brooksby Village ― (202-114) to secure the win. Daigle also won the primary in September.
“Thank you to the voters of Ward 4. I am humbled and honored and can’t wait to get to work,” said Daigle. “My team worked extremely hard and I believe, together, we ran a great and extremely positive campaign, so I could not be happier with their effort and I feel grateful to them for their support.
In Ward 5, former Councilor David R. Gamache topped incumbent Joel Saslaw, 766 to 530. Gamache had served for 24 years before stepping down in 2019.
“I want to thank the Ward 5 voters for returning me to a seat that I absolutely cherish,” Gamache said, thanking Saslaw for running a “good” race. “In the end, the voters made the decision and I am very humbled to come back as the Ward 5 councilor. We have a lot of work to do and I look forward to doing it.”
“It’s been a pleasure to serve my hometown for eight years,” said Saslaw. “I want to thank my family, friends, and supporters and I wish the new council well in 2022.”
In Ward 2, incumbent Peter McGinn defeated challenger Karen-Marie Cohen 534-218.
Ward 1 Councilor Craig Welton and Ward 6 Councilor Mark J. O’Neil ran unopposed and were reelected to two-year terms.
Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. also ran unopposed, winning a sixth two-year term.
“I am very grateful to the voters of Peabody for the privilege of serving another term as mayor, and I am honored by their continued faith and confidence in me,” said Bettencourt. “My passion to make Peabody an even better place to live is as strong as ever and I will continue to work every day towards that goal.”
In the councilor-at-large race, all five incumbents — Thomas L. Gould, Anne Manning-Martin, Thomas J. Rossignoll, Ryan Melville, and Jon Turco — were reelected to two-year terms (vote counts were unavailable).
There were no surprises in the School Committee race, with three candidates running for three seats. School Committee members Beverley A. Griffin Dunne and Jarrod Hochman, along with challenger Jon P. Swanson, were elected to four-year terms.
Anne V. Quinn, Richard C. Shruhan and Jennifer L. Smith ran unopposed and were elected to six-year terms as Peabody Institute Library trustees. Katrina J. Vassallo also ran unopposed and was elected to a two-year term.
The results of the Municipal Light Commission race pitting incumbents Thomas J. Paras and Robert Wheatley against challengers Tracy M. Valletti and Raymond J. Melvin were unavailable.
Manning-Martin said, as the only female councilor for the last 14 years, she is “relieved that the voters have sent me reinforcements.
“I look forward to working and moving forward in 2022.”
All results and vote counts are unofficial.
