PEABODY — Voters had their say Tuesday, and the unofficial results are in for the 2025 Peabody municipal election. Six races were contested this year: Mayor, Councilor-at-Large, Ward 2, Ward 3, Ward 6, and School Committee.
Mayor Ted Bettencourt easily secured another two-year term, defeating challenger Rochelle Agneta in a landslide.
With 8,007 votes cast in the mayoral race, Bettencourt received 6,497 votes (81%), while Agneta earned 1,510 votes (19%).
Nine candidates — three incumbents and six challengers — ran for the five Councilor-at-Large seats. Incumbents Jon Turco, Anne Manning-Martin, and Tom Rossignoll were all reelected. Jarrod Hochman and Jaclyn Corriveau will join them on the Council.
Turco topped the ticket with 5,134 votes, followed by Manning-Martin (4,638), Rossignoll (4,596), Hochman (4,465), and Corriveau (3,816).
“I feel reinvigorated,” Turco said. “I’ve been on Council 10 years and to finish number one on the ballot was really an honor. I want Peabody residents to know that I’m extremely grateful … It means the world to me because it just shows that it’s not all for nothing.”
Hochman, who will be making the switch from School Committee to City Council, couldn’t thank Peabody residents enough.
“I’ve worked hard for this, and I think people saw that, and I’m grateful that they did, and I’m grateful that they’ve given me the opportunity to serve them as a City Councilor,” he said.
The four challengers who did not receive Councilor-at-Large seats this election were: Joseph Amico (3,742 votes), Tristan Brown (1,903 votes), George Goulos (1,481 votes), and Justin Titus (1,100 votes).
Since Peter McGinn opted not to run again, Ward 2 was bound to elect a fresh face. Among the 796 votes cast between Wendy Lattof and Michael Troisi, Lattof won in a landslide with 490 votes, or 62%.
In another landslide, Ward 3 voters chose to reelect incumbent Stephanie Peach for another two years over challenger Neil Papamechail. Among the 865 votes, Peach received 668 votes, or 77%.
Ward 6 voters also chose to reelect their incumbent. Michael Higgins received 56% of the vote with 1,198 votes, and challenger Ryan Cox received the remaining 44% with 933.
For School Committee, there were five candidates — two incumbents and three challengers — gunning for three seats, and Peabody will soon see two newcomers join the Committee.
Incumbent Beverley Griffin Dunne received the most votes with 5,180. Challenger Suzanne Cox received 3,753 votes, and challenger Pamela Milman received 3,483.
Incumbent Jon Swanson received the fourth-highest number of votes amongst the candidates, with 3,295, and will not be returning to the Committee. Challenger Paolo Giuseppe Lambresa received 2,979 votes.
Since they ran uncontested, Ward 1 Councilor Craig Welton, Ward 4 Councilor Julie Daigle, and Ward 5 Councilor Dave Gamache will remain on Council for another two years.
Tracy M. Valletti was also unopposed for the six-year Municipal Light Commission term and will continue in her role. Stephanie J. Najjar ran unopposed and secured the two-year term as a Trustee of the Peabody Institute Library. The Library also had four six-year terms up for grabs, but only three candidates threw their hats in the ring: Caitlin J. Guyette, Peter Thomas Bakula, and Stephanie S. Dallaire.
Peabody School Committee incumbent Beverley Ann Griffin Dunne campaigns outside Welch Elementary School with her husband, Bob during Tuesday's election.
Peabody residents cast their votes at the Welch Elementary School polling location during Tuesday's election.
Peabody Ward 2 City Council candidate Mike Troisi campaigns outside Welch Elementary School during Tuesday's election.
