Lou

We have never endorsed candidates in local elections, which are non-partisan, as you know. However, this year is different. The stakes are higher. The prospect of a majority of Select Board members who appear eager to bring the Trump agenda to our town is both worrisome and all too real. Five Republican candidates are running for Select Board and another for School Committee.

We hope you will join us in voting for Gardner Trask and Dan Bennett for Select Board and Gabe Lopes for School Committee on May 6.  

These individuals are proven community leaders who reflect our Democratic values: fairness, inclusion, responsible government, and a deep affection for and commitment to Danvers.  They are experienced, thoughtful leaders, who have shown that they can listen, collaborate and lead effectively.

In a local election, every single vote matters.  We urge you to make a plan to vote on Tuesday May 6 for Gardner Trask, Dan Bennett, Gabe Lopes and our full slate of candidates who will serve Danvers with integrity and vision.

Election Day is this Tuesday, May 6 

Select Board (2 positions open)

• Gardner Trask
• Dan Bennett

School Committee (1 position open)

• Gabe Lopes

Library Trustee (3 positions open)

• Julie Curtis
• Noah Leavitt
• Kenneth Lee

Housing Authority (1 position open)

• Mike Swindell

Thank you for being an engaged member of our community.

At-Large City Councilor Hannah Bowen won the Democratic primary Tuesday night in the race to replace 6th Essex State Rep. Jerry Parisella.

Bowen garnered 2,733 votes, beating Beverly Ward 1 City Councilor Todd Rotondo who received 2,054 votes, according to unofficial election results.

Bowen will now face Republican Medley Long III in the general election on May 13. 

Students and teachers, union leaders and laborers, first-time protesters and veteran marchers. Everyday people from all over Massachusetts came to Boston on a cold, and rainy day to protest the Musk-Trump agenda. They brought their youngsters in backpacks and strollers. Some brought their pets.

All had the same goal: to stop Trump/Musk and MAGA from stealing our democracy, betraying our allies, halting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, erring minority history, crashing our economy for huge tax breaks for the rich, attacking Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, slashing government workers without cause, attacking our colleges, masked ICE agents taking people and sending them to Louisiana or Ecuador without due process …

Between 25,000 and 30,000 people flowed from Boston Common to City Hall Plaza, according to estimates from the Boston Police Department. The sound of drums echoed through the air and people waved American, Ukrainian, and trans pride flags. Despite chilly April temperatures, many came from places outside the city. They flocked from Framingham, Franklin, Gloucester, Danvers, Beverly, Plymouth, and beyond, with homemade signs and umbrellas, prepared for a rainy afternoon.

Estimates are of 100,000 at City Hall Plaza and Boston Common. There were local Hands Off demonstrations in Salem, Ipswich, Wakefield, Gloucester that I am aware of. Julie Curtis was in Salem where she said there were 500+ demonstrators. I went to Ipswich where it appeared to be at least 500 but appeared to be significantly more to me. The response from the streets in Ipswich was overwhelmingly supportive.

Date: April 26, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Town Hall
Toomey Room
Address:
1 Sylvan St.
Danvers, MA 01923

Select Board, School Committee, Library Trustee, Town Meeting Members

Key Election Dates

Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. They’re taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, we’re taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!

Boston and ALL of Massachusetts are fighting back! Senator Ed Markey has called on us to get 100,000 people on Boston Common. Let’s show the world what we can do! Join us in Boston.

The Select Board unanimously voted for Jill Cahill as the towns new Town Manager.

The two remaining finalists out of an original field of 31 were Jill Cahill, who has served three years as Gloucester’s chief administrative officer and Sean Fitzgerald, who served seven years as the Swampscott’s town administrator.

Selectperson David Mills opened last night’s discussions by saying Danvers is fortunate to have a town that can attract people of this quality and recommended Cahill for the post.

Selectperson Dutroche Djoko said both candidates had shown a “dedicated and strong commitment to Danvers.” He said he was leaning toward Cahill, but he would still like to hear what other people had to say.

Selectperson Michael Bean said the nominating committee had undergone a long and arduous process starting out at 31 candidates and working down to five. He said he had no doubt that Cahill was the right choice Selectperson Maureen Bernard said that first then the nominated board picked all 31 candidates and said she would be nominating Cahill as the next town manager “pending contract negotiation.”

Select Board Chairman Dan Bennett commented on what a long progress it had been to interview all the candidates, then narrowing it down from 31 to 11, then seven, then five and then 3 to bring before the board for interviews.

Drawing from some of the comments from Gloucester residents about Cahill, Bennet read “She has the faith and respect of everyone that works for the city.”

“She does a great job of balancing interests, listening to people and trying to build bridges.”

“In this role, it was her ability to build relationships and actively listen to everyone with respect.”

“That’s a common theme in these comments,” Bennett said, “and I think that at the end of the day, that’s why I chose Jill Cahill to be our next town manager.”

Maureen Bernard said she believes that “Jill Cahill will take Danvers to the next level, which is what we need.”

Bennett then called for a vote — which passed unanimously. He then moved that they appoint Cahill as town manager, subject to contract negotiations and a further background check.

He asked for Djoko to work with him on the contract as they go forwards. Bennett said after the background next, the city would work with legal counsel and “hopefully get this done in a month.”

Salem News 3/19/2025 By Buck Anderson