Lamarche re-elected, Bay Path renovation bond defeated

Voter ID questions pass--
with low voter turnout

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

On Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the second-lowest turnout of Oxford’s 8,654 registered voters showed up for their constitutional right to vote. Ballots cast totaled 384 or 4.4% of all registered voters. Although there were no contested elections taking place, according to Lori Kelly, Town Clerk, this was the second lowest voter turnout for a Town Election since 1995, when she began tracking them. Dennis Lamarche, who ran unopposed, was re-elected as Selectman with 277 votes and Daniel Coonan along with Sarah Gaucher were elected to 3-year terms to the School Committee with 249 and 195 votes, respectively. Alice Walker was voted in to fill a 2-year vacancy on the School Committee with 294 votes. Additionally, John Bowes received 273 votes to win a 3-year term as a Library Trustee and Rene Hamel collected 265 votes for a 3-year seat on the Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District Committee. Howard Merson received 262 votes to fill a 5-year seat on the Housing Authority and Joseph Depasquale obtained 259 votes for a 3-year term as Trustee of the Charles Larned Entertainment Fund. Nancy Maki’s total of 284 votes allowed her to fill a 2-year vacancy as a Trustee of the same Entertainment Fund.

Of the four ballot questions, results were as follows: Prop 2 ½ exemption to pay Oxford’s share of the Bay Path High School renovation project was narrowly defeated 187 to 181; a non-binding instruction to the town’s state representatives and senator to vote in favor of legislation requiring proof of U.S. Citizenship and legal Massachusetts residence before allowing a person to register to vote in all elections was passed 318 yes votes versus 52 no. Also listed as non-binding were questions 3 and 4, instructing Oxford’s state representatives and senator to vote in favor of legislation requiring Massachusetts election officials to require a picture ID before allowing a person to vote, as well as to vote similarly requiring proof of U.S. Citizenship and legal Massachusetts residence from the applicant before providing any form of state benefit, assistance, or public subsidy for said individual. Votes cast were 298 in favor 71 nay; and 321 in favor with 45 nay, respectively.