Johnson Re-Elected, Wentworth Claims Open Seat on Board of Selectmen

A six-person race that looked to have developed into a four-man battle through the last few weeks of the campaign, turned into a two-man runaway on Election Night 2013.

Incumbent Todd Johnson and challenger Jim Wentworth easily topped the field on Saturday to claim the two available seats on the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen.

Johnson easily won a third tern on the board with 1,624 votes. Wentworth was second with 1,449. Rick Menard, who had campaigned heavily on public safety issues, especially keeping the South Fire Station open, was a distant third with 597. He was followed by Ken Miano (449), Mary Ellen Fernald (384) and Bob Marcin (236).

Johnson said he was grateful for the chance to continue serving on the board.

"I'm honored that the voters have given me six years and now are putting me in for another three," he said. "I think it's a credit to the work we've done (on the board). We've worked hard to change the fiscal practices and I think people feel we're heading in the right direction.

"I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get back to work."

For the first time in four years, Johnson will be working with a new face on the Board of Selectmen. Wentworth takes the place of Anne Marie Stronach, who opted not to seek re-election after six years on the board.

Wentworth credited the hard work of his campaign committee and dozens of volunteers for his victory.

"I had a core group of 12 people that met once a week to talk about what we needed to be doing the following week," he said. "I pulled these people away from their homes and their families every Sunday night. This (victory) wasn't me. This was the people who've been working with me."

Like many of the other candidates, Johnson and Wentworth expressed disappointment with the low voter turnout. Just 2,744 people cast ballots, which represents just 13.1 percent of registered voters.