LYNNFIELD — Incumbent Select Board Chair Phil Crawford handily won reelection in the town’s annual election Tuesday, fending off a challenge from Bob Gillon.
Initial vote totals provided by the town clerk’s office showed Crawford cruising to re-election by a 428 to 215 margin. Crawford is now set to serve another three-year term on the three-member Select Board, with a decade of experience already under his belt. Gillon’s loss to Crawford marks his second unsuccessful challenge to a sitting Select Board member, after he was defeated by then-Chair Richard Dalton last year.
Crawford defeated Gillon in each of the town’s four precincts, winning 112 votes in Precinct 1, 66 votes in Precinct 2, 87 votes in Precinct 3, and 163 votes in Precinct 4. Gillon won 68 votes in Precinct 1, 44 votes in Precinct 2, 42 votes in Precinct 3, and 61 votes in Precinct 4. In all, 664 votes were cast, with Crawford winning 64.5 percent of them.
In a brief telephone interview Tuesday night, Crawford said he appreciated the town’s confidence in him. He thanked his wife, Ellen, for chairing his campaign, and thanked all the residents who held signs to show their support.
“I’d like to thank all the residents that voted for me and have their faith in me to run the town in the way it should be,” Crawford said. “I look forward to the next three years and continuing the work I’ve been doing.”
Crawford pointed to the bevy of construction projects set to commence across town in the coming years as ushering in a new era for Lynnfield. He cited the new public safety building, new tennis courts at the high school, and renovations to Town Hall as major achievements for the town.
Much of Crawford’s campaign focused on his accomplishments during his time on the board, including overseeing fiscal stability for Lynnfield with a series of balanced budgets and no override requests.
Gillon’s campaign, on the other hand, sought to bring a new perspective to town government. He criticized the current board’s handling of public comment, accusing them of not addressing residents’ concerns.
In selecting Crawford, voters seem to have rejected those criticisms, opting instead to keep the town on the track it’s already on.
