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The following members of the Danvers Democratic Town Committee were elected as Town Meeting Members:

Louis George – Precinct 1

Deborah Gesauldo – Precinct 1

Julie Curtis – Precinct 5

Marilyn Hazel – Precinct 6

Ryan Griffis – Precinct 6

Carla King – Precinct 8

Lou Bernazzani – Precinct 8

Dan Geary – Precinct 8

The Annual Town Meeting was held in the Danvers High School Auditorium on Monday May 16, 2022 at 7:30 PM.

The Town Meeting consisted of a Special Town Meeting in which 6 Articles were voted on and the Annual Town Meeting in which 40 Articles were voted on.

Drawing a lot of discussion is Article 5 under the Annual Town Meeting articles. This Article is titled: Home Rule Petition – Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical Schools District Enrollment. This article proposed placing a limit on the number of Danvers students to be enrolled at the Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical Schools District each year.

The town tabled this controversial issue on capping its enrollment at Essex Tech and shot down a proposed procedure for recalling elected town officials during Danvers’ Annual Town Meeting Monday night.

The town’s Finance Committee gathered with 128 Town Meeting members inside Danvers High School’s auditorium for a quick Special Town Meeting and Annual Town Meeting to consider 46 total proposed articles.

Town Meeting members passed an amendment to indefinitely postpone a vote on Article 5, a drafted home rule petition that would cap the number of Danvers students who attend Essex North Shore Technical & Agricultural School to 40 freshmen per year. “This amendment’s postponement will allow for the opportunity for more firm, continued and renewed work with Essex Tech’s administration, as well as potential for public workshops or other focused communications to answer questions outside of social media or less-inclusive email chains.

Voters reelected two incumbent members of the Select Board and elected a new member to the School Committee and other local representatives during the town’s election Tuesday.

Appears around 2600 residents cast their ballots at Danvers High School between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m..

Gabriel Lopes received 1,457 votes for an open seat on the School Committee, beating against Paula Jones, who garnered 808 votes. Lopes’ term will last the next three years.

Incumbents Daniel Bennett and David Mills won the two seats up for grabs on the Select Board. Bennett came in first with 1,295 ballots. Mills grabbed the second with 1163 votes coming ahead of third-place finisher Timothy Donahue by 37 votes. Both of the incumbents will serve three-year terms.

Town Moderator Patricia Fraizer, who ran unopposed, was re-elected for another year with 1690 votes.

DDTC member Julie Curtis won seat on Library Trustees Board leading with 1,356 votes, followed by Natalie Luca Fiore with 1307 votes and, Kenneth Yoon Lee with 1,082 votes. All were elected to three-year seats as Library Trustees.

The first Annual Town Election after the completion of the 2020 Federal Census requires that precinct lines be rebalanced, ALL Town Meeting Members be reset and ALL member seats will run for re-election.  All of the eight Precincts 18 seats were up for election.  The top 6 candidates in each Precinct that received the most votes will be elected to the 3 year term, the next 6, to the 2 year term, and the last 6 of the top 18 will be elected to the 1 year term.  To find out who they are visit: https://storage.googleapis.com/proudcity/danversma/uploads/2022/04/05-03-22_ATE_OFFICIAL_Results.pdf

BOSTON- The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday unanimously passed S.2802, An Act relative to the creation of a women’s rights history trail. The legislation celebrates the rich history of the women’s rights movement and contributions women have made across the Commonwealth.

Each year, thousands of tourists visit Boston to walk the Freedom Trail, to learn about the founding of our nation and walk in the history of our founding fathers. This legislation would allow residents and visitors alike to follow a similar trail to learn about the women who have made our Commonwealth, and nation, what it is today. By attracting tourists to women’s rights history trail sites, this bill will also help to stimulate economic activity throughout Massachusetts.

“Women in Massachusetts have played a pivotal role at every step in the Commonwealth’s history, yet their contributions are too often overlooked,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Women’s Rights History Trail will serve as a visible monument to the history of women—and the women’s rights movement. Understanding this history gives us all a chance to reflect on where we have come from and what it means to leave a legacy that can uplift and inspire future generations. I am glad to see that this trail will give particular attention to the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of the women who have transformed Massachusetts. I would like to thank Senator Lovely and her staff for their work to make this a reality.”

“Massachusetts has a rich history of involvement in the women’s rights movement,” said Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem), the bill’s lead sponsor. “Women have had a pivotal role in shaping the policies of our Commonwealth, and this bill will ensure that those contributions are known and celebrated. I would like to thank Senate President Spilka for her strong leadership and the work she has done to highlight women’s history, and the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators for their advocacy. The history of these women is our history, and we must continue to advance that history forward.”

This legislation creates a 16-member task force responsible for soliciting public input and conducting research to recommend sites, properties, and attractions that are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women’s rights and women’s suffrage, and that reflect Massachusetts’ geographic and demographic diversity. The Senate bill also requires the inclusion of accomplishments of women veterans in the trail, as well as recommendations for increasing the representation of women in the artwork of the State House. Members of the task force would include representatives from the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, among others.

Salem News Staff and wire reports

WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Thursday, shattering a historic barrier by securing her place as the first Black female justice and giving President Joe Biden a bipartisan endorsement for his effort to diversify the court.

Jackson, a 51 year-old appeals court judge with nine years experience on the federal bench, was confirmed 53-47, mostly along party lines but with three Republican votes. Presiding was Vice President Kamala Harris, also the first Black woman to reach that high office.

Jackson will take her seat when Justice Stephen Breyer retires this summer, solidifying the liberal wing of the 6-3 conservative-dominated court. She joined Biden at the White House to watch the vote, embracing as it came in.

On the North Shore, and around Massachusetts, Jackson’s confirmation drew praise and congratulations.

“The impact of Judge Jackson’s historic confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court cannot be overstated,” said Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett. “She is a proven, fair-minded jurist with a keen intellect and a demonstrated devotion to the Constitution and the rule of law. Her voice on the court will not only serve our nation well but will also spark the imaginations of countless young women and girls to seek new possibilities.”

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, Tweeted congratulations to Jackson, adding “It shouldn’t have taken until 2022 for a Black female to ascend to the highest court in the land. But our country will be better for it.”