Voters Choose New City Council; School Committee

Erin DiBenedetto, Robert Skerry Join School Committee; Rick Caraviello New City Councilor

– Allison Goldsberry

The Medford voters have spoken and come January 2012 three new faces will join the city’s elected bodies.

Erin DiBenedetto and Robert E. Skerry, Jr. will join the School Committee while Rick Caraviello will take a seat on the City Council.

DiBenedetto said she feels “very overwhelmed and grateful” for the support of her family, friends, and voters.

“I never really pictured how to run or win. I’ve always just done what’s best for the kids,” said DiBenedetto.

DiBenedetto, who has been very active in school activities over the years, including the Medford High School PTO, said once her son and daughter both graduated she felt the timing was right to make a run for the School Committee.

Skerry, a long-time School Committee member who was not re-elected in 2009, earned a seat back on the Committee. Skerry and DiBenedetto replace Bill O’Keefe and Sharon Guzik, two new members elected in 2009 who weren’t re-elected. Ann Marie Cugno, Paulette Van der Kloot, John Falco, and George Scarpelli were all re-elected to the School Committee, with early results showing a difference of just six votes between Cugno and Falco for the top of the ticket.

Caraviello, a businessman and active community member, has won his first City Council race. He earned 4,589 votes, according to unofficial results, good enough for third place out of the seven City Council candidates who won a seat on the Council. City Councilor Paul Camuso topped the ticket with 5,005 votes while Councilor Fred Dello Russo was in second place with 4,685 votes. City Councilors Robert Maiocco, Michael Marks, Breanna Lungo-Koehn, and Robert Penta were re-elected while Councilor Mark Arena did not retain his seat.

Mayor Michael McGlynn successfully fought off challenger Anthony D’Antonio to win re-election to his thirteenth consecutive term. According to unofficial results, McGlynn earned 5,721 votes while D’Antonio received 3,174 votes. Mayor McGlynn swept every single ward and precinct.

Mayor McGlynn is the longest-serving mayor in the state. Speaking at his election gathering Tuesday night at the Hyatt, a jubilant McGlynn told the crowd he is excited to continue to move the city forward.

According to City Clerk Ed Finn, voter turnout was 26% for the election, which is virtually the same turnout as 2009. By comparison, in 2005 nearly 10,000 voters headed to the polls, or 30.49% of registered voters at the time, while in 2007, only 21% of Medford’s registered voters cast a ballot.

Mayor Michael McGlynn, State Representative Paul Donato, and School Committee member Paulette Van der Kloot.

Rick Caraviello and Robert Skerry.

Erin DiBenedetto with her family, friends, and supporters.