Election preview: Mattapoisett and Rochester

Jun 8, 2020

Town Elections in Mattapoisett are on June 16 and Rochester’s elections are the following day. Each town has a contested race for the Board of Selectmen. Polls will be open in Mattapoisett at Old Hammondtown School from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Rochester Senior Center will be open for polling from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.

While polling stations will be open, residents are able to vote by mail due to coronavirus concerns. A Massachusetts absentee ballot application can be found here. Forms must be completed, signed and returned to Town Clerk Catherine Heuberger for Mattapoisett or Town Clerk Paul Dawson for Rochester.

In Mattapoisett, Tyler Macallister is running to take back his seat on the Board of Selectmen that he gave up in September after eight and a half years to apply for the then-open position of Town Administrator. He also brings six years of experience on the Conservation Commission to the table.

He will be running against John DeCosta. DeCosta served 17 years in the town’s Fire Department, 15 years in the water district, 12 years on the community preservation committee (where he is now chairman,) 12 years on the capital planning committee, two years on the open space preservation committee and three on the conservation management committee.

Profiles for the two Mattapoisett candidates can be found here.

In Rochester, incumbent Selectman Woody Hartley will be running for a second term on the board. He served as Rochester town moderator for 18 years, as well as park commissioner.

Adam Murphy is running for the position as well. He serves as the Deputy Harbormaster in Marion and has served as Marion’s Fire Department lieutenant and a paramedic.

A third candidate, Christopher Faustino, is also running for the open seat.

Profiles for two of the Rochester candidates can be found here. Faustino did not respond to requests for an interview.