Neighborhood Council Election: No Contest

Pamela Bender, chair of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council ombuds board, provided a press statement explaining the outcome of this year's recent Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council election. The statement is below:

The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council held its bi-annual election yesterday, Saturday, October 19, 2013.  The Council has 20 seats; five at-large seats and five seats in each of three districts. 12 certified candidates ran; 2 at large, 2 in Area A, 5 in Area B and 3 in Area C.  While none of the seats were contested, an election is necessary as the Council’s by-laws set thresholds for candidates to be elected.  District candidates for a must get at least 25 votes and at-large candidates need at least 50 votes.

245 Jamaica Plain residents cast ballots at three polling places: the Forest Hill T Station, the Stop and Shop at Jackson Square and JP Licks.  The polls were open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The results are: 

At-large

Michael Reiskind 157 votes

Dave Baron 137 votes

Area A

Martha Rodriguez 40 votes

Jeffrey Wiesner 34 votes

Area B

Erin Colgan-Snyder 65 votes

Carolyn Royce 63 votes

Jamey Lionette 56 votes

Jerry O’Connor 54 votes

Ann Barrett 50 votes

Area C

Kevin Maloney 46 votes

Benjamin Day 44 votes

Bernard Doherty 38 votes

The new council members will take their seats at the next Council meeting on October 29th.

The vacant seats will be announced at that meeting.  People interested in filling those seats should attend one of the following two consecutive Council meetings to announce their candidacy. The Council will vote on those candidates at the second meeting at which nominations are accepted or at any following meeting.

An Ombuds Board of Karley Ausiello, Pamela Bender and Kosta Demos oversaw the election.  18 volunteers staffed the polls and counted votes.

During the election, it was discovered that Carolyn Royce lives in Area A and not in Area B as was indicated on her nomination papers.  Voters from Area A who wished to vote for her were allowed to do so.  The Ombuds Board is recommending to the council that she fill an at-large seat in order to represent everyone who cast a vote for her.