Who's Who and Where to Vote in Special Election Primary
Here's your local guide to the State Representative primary election on March 5.
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Peabody holds its special election primary Tuesday to narrow down the field of candidates in the race for State Representative.
In the 12th Essex District, which represents Ward 1 through 4 and Precinct 1 and 3 in Ward 5, there are four candidates vying for the seat left open by the death of Joyce Spiliotis last year, but only three will appear on two party ballots Tuesday.
Republicans Greg Bunn and Leah Cole square off to determine who goes on to the April 2 final, while Beverley Griffin Dunne is on the Democratic ballot despite being unchallenged by a party opponent since former city councilor Jim Moutsoulas dropped out of the race.
Dave Gravel, who is unenrolled, does not appear on the primary ballot because it is only for political party candidates. He will appear on the April 2 ballot.
City Clerk Tim Spanos says the primary ballots will be as follows:
| Democrat Ballot | Beverley A. Griffin Dunne | 10 Colfax Street |
| Republican Ballot | Gregory S. Bunn | 44 Trask Road |
| Leah V. Cole | 369 Lynnfield Street |
Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Polls are located at the following places identified in the chart. If you don't know which precinct you're in, call the City Clerk's office at 978-538-5756.
| Ward 1 |
||
| 1-1 |
Saint Ann's Church | 140 Lynn St. |
| 1-2 |
Woodbridge Assisted Living | 240 Lynnfield St. |
| 1-3 |
Saint Ann's Church | 140 Lynn St. |
| Ward 2 |
||
| 2-1 |
Welch School | 50 Swampscott Ave. |
| 2-2 | Welch School | 50 Swampscott Ave. |
| 2-3 | South School | 16 Maple St. Ext. |
| Ward 3 | ||
| 3-1 | Our Lady of Fatima Church | 50 Walsh Ave. |
| 3-2 | Our Lady of Fatima Church | 50 Walsh Ave. |
| 3-3 | Wilson Terrace Rec Hall | 15A Wilson Ter. |
| Ward 4 | ||
| 4-1 | Higgins Middle School | 1 King St. Ext. |
| 4-2 | Higgins Middle School | 1 King St. Ext. |
| 4-3 |
Peabody Vets Memorial High School |
485 Lowell St. |
| 4-3A | Macintosh Clubhouse | 300 Brooksby Village Dr. |
| Ward 5 | ||
| 5-1 | Kiley School | 21 Johnson St. |
| 5-3 | McCarthy School | 76 Lake St. |
DEBBIE
12:13 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
It is nuts to think that Ward 5 is split in half these days. Precincts 1 and 3 belong to Peabody and Ted Speliotis represents precinct 2. How foolish is this?
When myself and many others became aware that Ward 5 was split in half, we immediately had a conversation with our beloved State Representative Joyce Spiliotis. She explained that she was approached by Ted on what precinct would benefit him most. Joyce answered in the ONLY common sense answer that would be possible. By that I mean she mentioned to Ted that where he represents Ward 6 (precincts 1, 2, 3), his best bet would be to represent the folks in Ward 5 precinct 3. It is the closest to Ward 6 and it would not split the area up. All in attendance at this get-together agreed wholeheartedly with Joyce. She always used common sense.
Joyce also mentioned that she had left word in Ted's office (more than once) and the Speaker's office that when and if they were going to decide on what would be the best precinct for Ted, to kindly involve her too, I mean she was our Representative. True to form, that is Joyce for you. She wanted to be up-to-date on where the people stood and which person would be their Representative.
Many of us called her office and every time we received a call back, she was not informed of any decision to date. Joyce always genuinely cared enough for her constituents and did not want them to be the "last to know" where to vote etc......
Joyce was the REAL DEAL. Now we're stuck with Ted.