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Levine, Baldwin win
![]() Candidate Sandra Levine at polls. (Staff photo by TOM MAGUIRE)
Top Headlines Incumbent Ann Baldwin and former Selectwoman Sandra Levine earned three-year terms on the board at Tuesday's annual town election. Baldwin and Levine topped a four-way race for the two seats, leading local businessmen William Clemmey and Christopher McGowan. Voters also re-elected Town Moderator Robert Saquet to his 21st one-year term. Saquet defeated former Selectman Steven MacCaffrie by a vote of 1,293 to 902. The annual town election drew 2,311 voters, for a 17.6 percent turnout. Levine and Baldwin, respectively, are only the second and fourth women to serve as Mansfield selectwomen. Levine received 1,243 votes to earn her fourth term on the board, and her first since leaving in 1989. Baldwin was second with 1,190 votes to earn her first full term. She was first elected in September to fill out the term of the late Bernard Dolan. McGowan received 855 votes, and Clemmey 773 votes. Incumbent Michael McCue did not seek re-election. "Perhaps they wanted something different," Levine said of the voters. "And, having two women on the board is different." Baldwin, too, was excited, both about being re-elected and making history. "I really felt all four of us presented ourselves well," she said. "I just hope I got re-elected because people thought I was doing a good job." Clemmey attributed the outcome to Baldwin's incumbency. "I think the incumbent always has an advantage," he said. McGowan said "having two experienced women" in the race made getting elected more difficult. McGowan was seeking his first elected office. "I thought I did a great job. I thought the numbers would've been much higher," he said. In the moderator's race, Saquet edged MacCaffrie by 391 votes. "The voters are showing confidence in me," Saquet said. "My opponent had a good showing, and I commend him for running a good race." MacCaffrie said mumbers were key to the outcome. "Mr. Saquet said everybody was happy. Well, there were only 300 more voters who were happy," MacCaffrie said. School committee candidates Jean Miller and Lisa Losiewicz were elected unopposed to three-year terms. Miller was an incumbent. Incumbent Emil Giordano did not seek re-election. Two ballot questions passed as well. With Question 1 passing by a vote of 1,280 to 827, Mansfield will indemnify municipal officials, both elected and appointed, when they face a civil rights claim or lawsuit for their official actions, except an intentional violation of civil rights. The indemnification will be capped at $1 million. Question 2 passed by a vote of 1,366 to 773. As a result, two school committee members will be added to the town's capital improvements program committee. MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0372 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.
Post Your Comments Equality wrote on May 9, 2007 9:17 AM: " Equality will never be achieved in this country as long as the press keeps getting excited about sex and race differences. First woman this, first hispanic that, first African-American governor.
Congrats to the winners now maybe the press can move to a more enlightened era? " or
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