Brockton: Mayor Balzotti will enter second term

Brockton Mayor Linda Balzotti, the city’s first female mayor, will enter a second term in the city of Champions.

Balzotti defeated challenger Ron Matta, a retired 68 year old businessman, 5,320 to 1,732 in Tuesday night’s election.

In the race for councilor-at-large, the four incumbents–Tom Brophy, Todd Petti, Jass Stewart and Robert Sullivan–all retained their seats. Challenger Kate Archard lost her bid.

In Ward 3, incumbent Councilor Dennis Eaniri also fended off a challenge from Gerald Conefrey, 956 to 424.

For the Ward Three School Committee incumbent Janice Beyer lost her seat to challenger Anthony Joseph Donegan Jr., 649 to732

Turnout in Brockton was woefully low; it’s estimated that just 15% of voter went out to the polls, which town officials say is one of the worst turnouts in the past 30 years. In September’s preliminary election, only 4.7 percent of the city’s registered voters headed to the polls.

Balzotti will be sworn in after the first of the year.