Voters in Haverhill and Methuen who didn’t vote by mail or participate in early voting, go to the polls today.
In Haverhill, Mayor James J. Fiorentini and City Council Vice President Colin F. LePage are contenders for the corner office or City Hall, while there are 17 candidates for nine City Council seats and four for three School Committee seats. No matter what happens, there will be three new faces on the City Council in January because of vacancies.
Incumbent councilors, as ranked by ballot position, are City Council President Melinda E. Barrett and Councilors Timothy J. Jordan, John A. Michitson, Thomas J. Sullivan, Michael S. McGonagle and Joseph J. Bevilacqua. Challengers are Melissa Lewandowski, William Taylor, Catherine Rogers, former School Committee member Shaun P. Toohey, Kenneth Stevenson, Tomas Michel, Dee Jacobs O’Neil, Fred Simmons, Josiah Morrow, Katrina Hobbs-Everett and former Councilor Kenneth E. Quimby.
Haverhill’s School Committee contest is between incumbents Maura Ryan-Ciardiello, Richard J. Rosa and Paul A. Magliocchetti and newcomer Miguel Andres Quinones.
In Methuen, Mayor Neil P. Perry is running unopposed as are a number of city councilors.
For an at-large council seat, incumbents David D.J. Beauregard Jr., Nicholas DiZoglio and Jessica L. Finocchiaro face a challenge from Joyce C. Campagnone. In the West District, Michael Downs is running against incumbents Allison Saffie and Mike Simard. All Methuen School Committee candidates are unopposed. For Greater Lawrence Technical School Committee, Thomas R. Hatem seeks election against incumbents Anngybel Moreta and Francisco Surillo.
Ballot Questions
Haverhill voters are also asked to weigh in on two ballot questions. One asks whether Haverhill should elect one city councilor from each of the city’s seven wards and four at large. The second asks voters whether they agree with electing a nine-member School Committee with five members elected from districts to be defined by the City Council and mayor and three more from across the city.
In Methuen, voters are asked to reconsider their 2016 vote against cannabis businesses being allowed in the city. Residents are asked whether the city should allow the cultivation, transportation, purchase, and sale of marijuana/cannabis for all purposes presently deemed legal” in the state.
Polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.