REGION —Voters statewide participated in the Nov. 8 election at levels high enough to keep poll workers busy into the night, long after the voters were home and in some cases sleeping soundly.
In the Wachusett towns, the results kept most of the more local people in place.
And Holden voters passed a debt exclusion to fund recreation expansion in the Dawson area, taking advantage of space at the site of the new DPW building to add facilities.
Voter turnout
Voter turnout was good, as high as 62%: Holden – 9,262 casting ballots of the 15,072 registered voters, for a turnout of 61.45%; Paxton – 2,211 of 3,564 for 62% turnout; Princeton – 1,951 of the town’s registered voters went to the polls; Rutland- 4,145 voted of 7,107 registered, 58.3%; Sterling – 4,099 voted of 6,563, for a turnout of 62.46%.
The numbers are unofficial since there are still ballots — namely absentee ballots cast by armed forces and overseas voters — to be counted. That amounts to a handful of figures to be added before a final official count is certified.
Ballot questions There were four statewide ballot questions, with varying degrees of support from local voters.
Question 1, to add a tax for income over $1 million, passed in statewide voting. Locally, four of the five Wachusett towns opposed the measure, with only Princeton supporting, and then with a one-vote margin.
The votes were: Holden opposing (4,379 for and 4,759 against); Paxton opposing (971 for and 1,202 against); Princeton supporting (964 for and 963 against); Rutland opposed (1,755 for and 2,279 against) and Sterling opposed (1,667 for and 2,383 against).
Question 2, regulating dental benefit plans, was passed statewide. All five Wachusett towns supported the measure: Holden 6,229 for, 2,884 against; Paxton 1,411 for, 742 against; Princeton 1,338 for, 588 against; Rutland 2,589 for, 1,421 against; and Sterling 2,569 for, 1,481 against.
Question 3, regulating alcoholic licenses, failed. Locally, the votes were: Holden against the change (3,722 for and 5,258 against); Paxton opposing (844 for and 1,292 against); Princeton opposed (772 for and 1,096 against); Rutland opposed (1,582 for and 2,399 against); Sterling opposed (1,751 for and 2,239 against).
Question four, regarding immigrant drivers licenses statewide, passed, but with most local communities opposed to the measure. Locally, the votes were: Holden opposed (4,316 for and 4,783 against); Paxton opposed (972 for and 1,186 against); Princeton supporting (995 for and 932 against); Rutland opposed (1,583 for and 2,455 against); Sterling opposed (1,752 for and 2,267 against).
Sterling had two additional nonbinding questions. Question 5 supporting a single- payer system of universal health care won support 1,831 to 1,812, while Question 6, directing the representative to vote in favor of changes to rules to make each legislator’s vote publicly available on the Legislature’s website, was supported 2,920 to 728.
Races run mostly blue Despite a generally Democratic victory in the Wachusett towns, one Republican candidate stood out. Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, a Holden resident, outpolled challenger David Fontaine of Paxton, giving Evangelidis a rare contest for the position he has held since winning as sheriff and giving up his state representative seat. The tallies were: Holden 6,479 for Evangelidis to 2,467 for Fontaine; Paxton, 1,337 to 804; Princeton, 1,299 to 588; Rutland, 3,048 to 998; and Sterling 2,738 to 1,218.
In the race for state senator, Anne Gobi prevailed against James Anthony Amorello. Most Wachusett area voters went for Gobi in Holden (4,892 to 4,096); Paxton (1,200 to 959); Princeton (1,166 to 719); and Rutland (2,111 to 1,949). Sterling voters preferred Amorello (2,002 to 1,968).
In Sterling, incumbent Meg Kilcoyne won against Michael Vulcano in the 12th Worcester District representative race. Kilcoyne won 2,258 in Sterling to Vulcano’s 1,718.
Incumbent State Rep. Kim Ferguson was unopposed to serve the towns of Holden, Paxton, Princeton and Rutland. District Attorney Joseph Early was also unopposed.
Statewide races For the U.S. Congress, incumbent Democrat James McGovern prevailed over Republican Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette: Holden 5,382 McGovern vs. 3,636 for Sossa-Paquette; Paxton, 1,216 to 945; Princeton 1,196 to 709; Rutland, 2,135 to 1915; Sterling 2,154 to 1,826.
The governor’s race was won by the Democratic ticket of Healey and Driscoll over Republicans Diehl and Allen and Libertarians Reed and Everett. Voters in Holden went for Healey, 5,150 to 3,854 for Diehl and 146 for Reed; Paxton, 1,141 to 1,013 to 38; Princeton, 1,149 to 746 to 34; Sterling, 2,036 to 1,978 to 59. In Rutland, voters favored Diehl over Healey 2,078 to 1,933, with 93 for Reed.
Attorney General: Democrat Andrea Joy Campbell won over Republican James McMahon III in Holden, Paxton and Princeton; Rutland voters opted to support McMahon 2,163 to 1,871; and Sterling voters preferred McMahon 2,085 to 1,926.
Secretary of State: Democrat William Galvin won in all Wachusett towns over Republican Rayla Campbell and Green-Rainbow Party candidate Juan Sanchez.
Treasurer: Deborah Goldberg won over Republican Cristina Crawford in all five towns.
Auditor: Five candidates were on the ballot, with Democrat Diana DiZoglio winning over a strong challenge from Republican Anthony Amore in some communities. DiZoglio won statewide and in Princeton, while Amore won in Holden, Paxton, Rutland and Sterling.
Councilor: Paul DePalo won over Gary Galonek in Holden, Paxton, Princeton and Sterling; Galonek won in Rutland.
Gobi, whose new state senate district added Sterling constituents to the new Worcester and Hampshire District, reflected on the election.
“There is a lot of work to be done to support my Central and Western Mass region. Citycentric policies and politics have not supported our smaller neighborhoods and communities. I am proud to fight for agrarian and former industrial areas,” Gobi said.
“Our residents are the backbone of the Commonwealth. I thank the voters for their support and trust. Going into the next legislative cycle, I look forward to tackling more work on behalf of those impacted by crumbling concrete and supporting legislation to update the Move Over Law. As we look to take on another budget, I will ensure that our communities receive state dollars to support their efforts,” she added.
