By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
4/30/09
It wasn’t the turnout officials were predicting, but enough voters cast their ballots Tuesday to elect James McAuliffe the new town treasurer.
With just 23 percent of voters in town casting a ballot, McAuliffe defeated former Selectman Charles McCarthy in a close race, 1,948 votes to 1,611. Janet Lorden was third with 741 votes.
“I’m a little flabbergasted, but I’m thrilled,” said McAuliffe during the town’s cable coverage after the results were announced Tuesday night.
McAuliffe is a lifelong resident and former Town Meeting member who coaches Little League and town basketball. He campaigned on experience working as a Realtor and property manager at Duhallow Real Estate in Quincy. He also worked in The Boston Globe’s finance department.
Selectman Chair John Shields, who was involved in the cable coverage, said the town has a “really good, decent guy” in McAuliffe as its new treasurer.
“I’ve known you for a long time. You did very well,” Shields told McAuliffe.
McAuliffe said he is proud to move into the office that Kevin Sorgi has held for 28 years.
Sorgi decided not to seek re-election. His friends in town have organized a retirement party for him.
In a televised address, Town Clerk James Mullen Jr. thanked Sorgi for his service to the town.
“I just want to thank Kevin for his commitment over the years to Milton, [and for his] dedication, loyalty and friendship to me,” said Mullen.
In his first bid for town office, McAuliffe carried most of the precincts in the eastern part of town, where the highest turnout was recorded. McCarthy won five of the 11 precincts, although many of them recorded lower turnouts (see chart on Page 15).
McAuliffe said he went door-to-door, visiting some 1,500 homes and losing 25 pounds over the course of the campaign.
“I carried East Milton, which was the key,” he said. “I just want to thank my supporters.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy said he still feels like a winner because his daughter, Louisa, was elected Town Meeting member for Precinct 11.
“How can anyone think I lost tonight after that?” said McCarthy, who also congratulated McAuliffe on his victory.
Officials also recognized Lorden’s contribution to the race. Shields said he was impressed with how Lorden, a first-timer in town politics, handled her campaign.
“You really made a great presentation. I congratulate you,” he told her.
Shields encouraged Lorden to run again for office in the future, saying, “There’s a place for you and we’ll find it.”
Lorden, who is active at the Tucker school and Milton Junior Woman’s Club, said running for the office was a “wonderful” experience.
“It was a million times better than I’d ever thought it would be. I leave with such good feelings,” she said.
In another anticipated contest, incumbent Library Trustee Andrea Gordon was re-elected and will be joined by two new members. Warrant Committee member Brendan McLaughlin and Barbara Mason will fill the seats formerly held by Marjorie Jeffries and Jennifer White, who did not seek re-election.
Mason said she is honored to serve in the position.
“I want to thank everyone who voted for me. My husband was out there from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” she said.
Gordon, who has held her seat for 15 years, said she welcomes the new trustees, who she thinks will offer “fresh ideas” for the library.
In the day’s tightest race, incumbent Lee Cary held her seat on the Housing Authority, defeating Richard “Ben” Casey by just 136 votes.
Stephen Affanato defeated Thomas McCarthy for a seat as park commissioner, replacing Terry Driscoll.
In another close contest, longtime assessor Tom Gunning kept his seat from challenger Todd Greenwood.
Anthony Sammarco won an uncontested race for a one-year seat as cemetery trustee, to replace J. Joseph Donovan, who died while still serving.
Shields and Mullen were re-elected to three-year terms unopposed. Also re-elected without contest were Planning Board member Bernie Lynch, School Committee members Lynda-Lee Sheridan and Mary Kelly, Board of Health member Timothy Lowney and Cemetery Trustee Joseph Reardon.
The voter turnout of 22.8 percent was lower than the 35 percent Mullen had predicted.
Turnout was highest in Precinct 7, with 474 out of 1,608 registered voters – 29.4 percent – casting a ballot. Precinct 1 recorded the lowest voter turnout, with just 173 of 1,461 – 11.8 percent – of voters casting a ballot.
Names of the Town Meeting winners will appear next week.