Unofficial results show Gloucester Democrat Andrew “Dru” Tarr has been elected as the next state representative for the 5th Essex District.
“We like the results so far and it shows people value experience I’m bringing to the job and I’m eager to hit the ground running to advocate for Cape Ann,” Tarr said.
According to the unofficial results, a majority of Cape Ann came out in support of Tarr, with Manchester-by-the-Sea Republican Christina Delisio receiving the second most and unaffiliated candidate from Essex Gilbert Frieden trailing.
Tarr will now succeed the late Ann-Margaret Ferrante, for whom he worked as a legislative aide for nine years.
Throughout his campaign, Tarr has said he wants to prioritize improving quality of life for all Cape Ann residents by focusing on both vocational and public education, housing affordability, and implementing systems to help get residents good paying jobs.
Tarr will be finishing out the rest of Ferrante’s term which is set to end this fall. He, Frieden, Delisio and Rockport Democrat Sarah Wilkinson, a write-in candidate during the March 3 primary, have all committed to running in September.
In Gloucester, Tarr won by almost 1,000 votes. Unofficial results put Tarr at 1,865 votes, Delisio with 883 and Frieden with 115. Six write-in votes were also submitted.
Rockport also came out for Tarr, who took 70% of the votes. In unofficial results, Tarr won 1,035 votes to Delisio’s 359 or 24%, while Frieden trailed with 67 votes or 5%. Twenty write-in votes and two blank ballots were also cast. About 24% of the town’s registered voters, or 1,483 of 6,278 participated in the election.
In Manchester-by-the-Sea, 777 of the town’s registered voters cast ballots at the town’s single precinct.
Unofficial results had Tarr as the top vote-getter with 483, followed by Delisio with 250 and Frieden with 43. One write-in was cast.
Essex residents, where 391 or 12.9% of the town’s 3,036 registered voters cast ballots at the Public Safety Building, came out for Frieden, the hometown candidate. He garnered 152 votes to Tarr’s 122 and Delisio’s 116 in unofficial results. One blank ballot was cast.
Through the first six hours of voting Tuesday in Gloucester, several poll workers reported voter turnout had been very low.
Many of the poll workers said this did not come as a surprise considering only 8% of voters in the seaport came out for the March 3 primary.
As of at 2:15 p.m., only 75 voters had cast ballots in Gloucester’s Ward 2, Precinct 2.
In Rockport, Town Clerk Melanie Waddell made the rounds to the town’s three polling sites throughout the day. About 2 p.m., Waddell reported 930 voters had cast ballots — 272 in Precinct 1, 286 in Precinct 2 and 372 in Precinct 3. There are 6,278 registered voters in Rockport.
The on-again and off-again rain and temperatures hovering in the low 40s may have played a factor in voter turnout.
“It’s not as busy as the primary,” Waddell said. “I think the rain kept people back. I’m hoping people will come out and vote after work, if the rain holds off.”
But many of the voters who came out said even though turnout is low, it is still important to vote in every election and stressed the importance of strong leadership across several issues.
“In local elections one vote can make a big difference, especially in today’s political climate,” Gloucester resident Frank Militello said. “I don’t care if it’s president, vice president, governor, senator or dog catcher, every position matters.”
Rockport voter Katie Paradis echoed that sentiment. “I think every vote counts,” she said. “It’s for the greater good. We need to support initiatives that support family.”
Some voters said they were looking for their candidate to continue Ferrante’s work.
“I’d like to see some continuity in the representation of this district so that means following up on Ann-Margaret Ferrante’s leadership on a whole bunch of issues,” Paul Romary of Gloucester said.
Rockport resident Diane Faissler was not shy about sharing which candidate she had just voted for.
“I pretty much knew what I was going to do — Dru Tarr,” she said. “He seems like a natural for the part.”
Coming out of the polling site, Sandy Simon was more reserved about who she supported. However, she said she would not miss the opportunity to participate in this election, or any election.
“It’s a minor election,” she said. “But I’ve never missed (voting in) an election. It’s important for our town.”
Gloucester resident Joyce Fossa echoed Romary, saying she cast her vote based on who she believed would positively impact the fishing industry and tackle issues such as affordable housing.
But other voters said they wanted to see a change from Ferrante’s politics and cast their vote to try to get more conservative leadership elected.
“I believe that we need it and I don’t think there’s enough of it,” Elery Leblanc of Gloucester said.
Heading inside the Rockport polls at Precinct 3 from the rain outside was Rockport resident Frank Kucharski.
“I always vote,” said Kucharski. “I’m a Republican so I’m going to vote Republican.”
Yet others focused on specific issues, such as the schools, housing and local employment when deciding who to vote for.
“My biggest thing is education and money for schools,” East Veterans Elementary School employee Janelle Jackson, a Gloucester voter, said. “We need someone who’s going to fight for education within Massachusetts, Gloucester and all over.”
Staff Writer Bobby Grady may be contacted at 978-675-2714 or bgrady@gloucestertimes.com.