Copyright MassLive
SPRINGFIELD — Two long-term School Committee members were ousted in tight races while a third experienced member easily held off a challenge in Tuesday’s election. School administrator Rosa Valentin bested Christopher Collins, a 20-year School Committee member, by 234 votes for the District 3 seat which covers Wards 6 and 7. The two candidates came out on top following a three-way preliminary race in September. “It looked like people wanted change up and down the board,” Collins said after the results were announced Tuesday. Collins wasn’t alone in being defeated on the School Committee and at least two long-term City Council candidates lost to challengers and two others squeaked by in races with less than a 50-vote margin. Incumbent Peter Murphy, a lawyer, who has served on the School Committee for 15 years, lost to newcomer Ayanna Crawford, aide to state Rep. Orlando Ramos, in the District 4 seat. The vote was 1,213 to 901. “It feels amazing. It is a dedicated team of folks that makes something like this happen,” Crawford said, thanking her supporters. “Hard work pays off.” Crawford said her first move will be to focus on ensuring all schools are providing enough and appropriate social and emotional supports for students. But it wasn’t all bad news for incumbents, Barbara Gresham, who has served in District 2 covering Wards 4 and 5 since 2009, beat challenger Giselle Gains in a two-to-one margin, 2,165 to 1,071 ballots. “I think it is consistency. I think the (school) district is going in the right direction and people want to see that continue,” Gresham said. The two incumbents who hold at-large seats easily held off a challenge from Michele Pepe, the owner of an early childhood education center and daughter of the late School Committee member Antonette Pepe. Denise Hurst was the top vote-getter with 7,373 votes and vice chairwoman LaTonia Monroe Naylor followed with 6,203 ballots. Pepe received 3,776 votes. In Ward 1 newcomer Gumersindo M. Gomez Jr. ran unopposed after incumbent Joesiah Gonzalez decided to run for City Council. Gonzalez’s attempt to move to the different board was unsuccessful.
