Davenport wins seat on Hampden Select Board

May 22, 2019 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

Donald Davenport and Vinnie Villamaino pose for a photo on Town Election Day.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

HAMPDEN – Donald Davenport unseated incumbent Vinnie Villamaino after waging a fierce campaign against the four-term Hampden Selectman.

“I’m honored and humbled by the response to my message of openness and inclusion in town (sic) decision-making and I thank the voters for the confidence they have placed in me,” Davenport said in a statement. He thanked Villamaino “for his years of service to the town.”

“I encourage every town resident to get involved, be involved, stay involved because Hampden Matters,” Davenport said.

The town was certainly involved in the May 20 election, in which 1,051 of Hampden’s 3,696 registered voters went to the polls. That is a 28 percent voter turnout.

Both candidates made a final push on the day of the election by sitting in front of the Town House, about 20 feet apart, each with signs and a handful of supporters. The final tally was 792 for Davenport to Villamaino’s 251.

When Villamaino was asked if he had a comment on the election results, he told Reminder Publishing, “Absolutely not.”
The Park Commissioner race was fairly close, but Dan Slattery beat David John Turcotte by 62 votes. He will serve a three-year term in the office, while Carrie Joseph will serve for one year in the role.
All of the other candidates ran unopposed for their offices.

Eva A. Wiseman ran for another three-year term as both Town Clerk and Tax Collector.

The Library Trustee office was won by Kathleen Hutchison.
Linda Casey ran as a write-in candidate for cemetery commissioner, receiving 64 votes.

Three Constables were elected. David J. Lussier and Dennis Hackett, Sr. were both re-elected. This is Andrew Phillip Netherwood’s first term.

Richard E. Patullo was re-elected to the office of Treasurer.

Stanley Witkop will, again, serve as Assessor for the town.

There is a three-year term for each of those offices.

Maura A. Ryan will become the new Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee member, replacing Rita Vail, who did not seek re-election. It is a one-year position.

Richard R. Green ran for the position as Town Moderator. He will serve in this position for a one–year term.

The five-year seat on the Planning Board will be held by John J. Barroso, while Sheree Butts will sit on the Housing Authority for the same period.

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