Election Day Arrives as Town Clerk Hopes for 30 Percent Turnout

Sudbury residents will head to the polls on Monday during what is expected to be a busy day at the polls.

Town Clerk Rosemary Harvell said she and her election staff are prepared for the action, adding that she is hopeful contested races and an important ballot question will yield a turnout of close to 30 percent.

"We don't try to guess what the turnout will be, because it is so unpredictable," said Harvell. "But people seem to be very interested in this election. There's been a lot of buzz."

For comparison, in 2013 with three contested races and one ballot question, a total of 2,684 residents turned out to vote. That total was 22 percent of the registered voters in Sudbury.

In 2012 there were two contested races and two ballot questions. That year 3,400 residents voted, a total of 29 percent of the registered voters.

"It’s very important that residents come out and vote," said Harvell. "Sudbury takes that very seriously and they do turn out. We’re a lot higher than average in our turnouts for elections."

This year residents will be asked to make their choices for elected office and they will also face one ballot question related to the proposed police station on Monday, when polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Town officials will know by Monday's end if the new police station plans will be brought before voters at Annual Town Meeting. In order for the plans to become a reality, the ballot question regarding funding must pass at the ballot on Monday.

In addition to the single ballot question, here is who's on this year's ballot:

• Board of Selectmen (Three years, vote for one): John C. Drobinski (incumbent) and Patricia A. Brown.
• Sudbury School Committee (Three years, vote for two): Ellen Winer Joachim (incumbent), Richard J. Robison (incumbent), Christine A. Hogan, and Lisa V. Kouchakdjian.
  
• Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee (Three years, vote for two): Elena M. Kleifges (incumbent), Patricia M. Mostue (incumbent), and Sofya L. Gruman-Reznik.
  
• Park and Recreation Commissioner (Three years, vote for one): Michael T. Ensley.
  
• Board of Assessors (Three years, vote for one): Liam J. Vesely.
  
• Goodnow Library Trustee (Three years, vote for two): Robert William Iuliano (incumbent), and Barbary F. Pryor (incumbent).
  
• Goodnow Library Trustee (One year, vote for one): Nancy Jane Hershfield.
  
• Board of Health (Three years, vote for one): Susan R. Sama.
  
• Sudbury Housing Authority (Five years, vote for one): Sherril P. Cline (incumbent). 
  
• Planning Board (Three years, vote for one): Martin Joseph Long.