CHICOPEE — Two long-term incumbents, the former school finance and human resources manager, and a 10-year resident will advance to the general election after besting opponents in two preliminary elections for School Committee and City Council on Tuesday.
The citywide election narrowed down three candidates to two for an at-large School Committee seat and the Ward 5 City Council seat.
It was marked by a record-low 1.9% voter turnout. Just 733 of the 38,457 registered voters in the city cast ballots, said City Clerk Keith W. Rattell.
For Ward 5 City Council, long-term incumbent Frederick T. Krampits was the top vote-getter with 95 ballots, followed by John Kivel, a political newcomer and 10-year-resident who received 72 votes. Alissia J. Heath came in third with 17 ballots and was eliminated for the November election.
Susan A. Szetela Lopes and Stephen Nembirkow earned a chance to compete for the School Committee at-large seat for a two-year term, receiving 462 and 155 votes respectively. Donald M. Vadnais came in third with 97 votes and will not appear on the November ballot.
The vote counts are unofficial.
Lopes has served on the School Committee since 1997 representing Ward 6, but she is moving and decided to run for the at-large seat. Nembirkow has worked in administration and finance for several school districts, including Chicopee’s, where he served as business and human resources manager.
Typically School Committee at-large seats are four years, but this election fills a seat that was vacated two years ago when Michael Pise left to become chief of staff for Mayor John L. Vieau.
Chicopee ward 5 councilor candidate John Kivel stands outside First Central Bible Church polling place on Broadway Street during the preliminary election on Tuesday. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)
