NORTH ADAMS -- Just a hair under 10 percent of the city’s 8,724 registered voters favored U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, in Thursday’s state primary, as the congressman took 365 votes to challengers Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr.’s 333 and Bill Shein’s 130 on his way to winning the 1st Congressional District.
City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau acknowledged that turnout was low, and predictably so, given projections before the primary, but she credited her staff of 50 who worked in shifts throughout voting hours.
"From my perspective, it was a great day," Gomeau said. "We have the best poll workers and I have so much faith in them."
Election official Ron O’Brien said voters arriving at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Center were relatively quiet this time around.
"There wasn’t much talk," he said. "Usually people are triggered if somebody local is running. ... Primaries in North Adams are primaries in North Adams."
In the primary’s other races, Kevin Sullivan led the Democratic primary for the 8th Councilor District with 276 votes to Michael Albano’s 243 and Gerry Roy’s 60. On the Republican side, Michael Case led Michael Franco 16 to 5 for the Governor’s Council nod.
The Governor’s Council’s primary role is to vet judges appointed by the governor. Overall Thursday, Albano received the Democratic nomination with 43 percent of the vote, and
Adams logged a slightly higher turnout at 14 percent, with 820 of the town’s 5,869 registered voters casting ballots. Neal again enjoyed a narrow lead with 342 votes to Nuciforo’s 312 and Shein’s 92. For the Governor’s Council, Sullivan led Albano in Adams as well, receiving 276 votes to Albano’s 210 and Roy’s 80. The Republican primary saw Case take 50 votes to Franco’s 11.
Neal took Williamstown with 318 votes to Nuciforo’s 243 and Shein’s 218. In the Democratic primary for the 8th Councilor District, Sullivan received 210 votes, Albano received 207 and Roy received 48. Case took the Republican primary for the 8th District with 33 votes to Franco’s 11 votes.
A total of 841, or about 22 percent, of the town’s 3,902 voters cast ballots in the primary.
Town Clerk Mary Kennedy said voter turnout was lower than she had anticipated.
"I had expected at least 1,000 voters because of the congressional race," she said.
She was concerned earlier in the day that if it got humid, they could have trouble with the voting machines, but everything went smoothly, she said.
Cheshire’s participation hovered around 13 percent, Neal scoring the lion’s share with 137 votes to Nuciforo’s 90 and Shein’s 32. In the other races, Albano led the Democratic 8th Councilor District with 105 votes to Sullivan’s 82 and Roy’s 28, and Republicans Case and Franco received 30 and 2 votes, respectively. Of Cheshire’s 2,270 registered voters, 298 cast ballots.
Neal won Hancock with 24 votes. Nuciforo received 22 and Shein received 8. In the Democratic primary for 8th Councilor District, Albano was victorious with 19 votes to Sullivan’s 12 and Roy’s 6 votes. The Republican primary for the 8th District went to Case with 10 votes. Franco received 0 votes.
A total of 64, or about 13 percent, of the town’s 513 registered voters participated in the election. Town Clerk Linda Burdick said one more voter cast a ballot in this year’s state primary than did in the 2008 primary.
"We didn’t expect more than 70 people today," she said. "When there aren’t that many big ticket items on the ballot, people just don’t show up in the small towns."
Clarksburg went to Neal with 53 votes. Nuciforo received 46 and Shein 11. Albano took the 8th Councilor District for the Democrats with 46 votes to Sullivan’s 42 and Roy’s 8. On the Republican side, the 8th District went to Case with 9 votes to Franco’s 3.
A total of 129, or about 12 percent, of Clarksburg’s 1,107 registered voters participated in the primary.
Savoy logged 26 Neal votes to Nuciforo’s 20 and Shein’s 8. Albano carried the 8th Councilor District Democratic primary with 20 votes to Sullivan’s 15 and Roy’s 5. Republicans Case and Franco received 11 and 3 votes, respectively.
Nuciforo carried Florida with 26 votes to Neal’s 12 and Shein’s 8. Albano and Sullivan tied at 16 for the 8th Councilor District Democratic primary and Case led Franco 8 to 0 on the Republican side.
New Ashford went to Nuciforo, who received 13 votes. Neal received 10 votes and Shein 6. Sullivan took the 8th Councilor District with 9 votes. Albano received 6 votes and Roy received 1. Case won the Republican primary for the 8th District with 4 votes to Franco’s 0 votes.
Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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