Mansfield Election Not a Big Draw

 Tuesday's election brought about some change in the Mansfield School Committee's members, but officials say there were very few of the town's voices being heard.

Less than 10 percent of registered voters came out to vote and it may have shaped the election.

"They ought to be ashamed of themselves; the people who didn't come out to vote," said Town Clerk Helen Christian. "We have 14,000 [registered] voters, and we had 1,482 come out. People should know that is their duty to come out and vote. We live in a democracy, and if we want to keep our democracy, people should vote."

Frank DelVecchio, who was running for relection to the school committee, said he thought that he could have been a better candidate and gotten more of his base out to vote, but current economic conditions may have also affected residents' feelings about the political system. He lost to his seat to Kiera O'Neil.

"I think these have been tough times, and no one was very excited about voting," said DelVecchio. "Even an attractive new candidate like Kiera O'Neil was only able to get about six-percent of the voters to vote for her. I think that people are sick and tired of the local political baloney, which, ironically, only serves to empower and embolden the worst political elements in town."

School Committee Chair Michael Trowbridge said after the results were announced that it was a "hollow victory" for him, and said that he will miss DelVecchio on the committee. He also believes that the outcome and turnout was based more on the current economic situation of the town than dissaproval of the incumbants, as newly-elected  O'Neil . 

"It is disappointing" Trowbridge said. "I think it shows there is not as much dissatisfaction with the schools as some of the candidates claimed. Do we have areas we need to improve? Absolutely. They worked hard to get their voters out."

The low turnout of this election seems to be part of a continuing downward trend, with 16 percent of registered voters participating last year and 20 percent in 2009.