Mulas, Byrnes and Champoux Win Contested Races

UPDATE: Town Clerk Sharon George provided the official count of Saturday's election. Michael Champoux took the Board of Selectmen vote by a count of 1,476-370.

The unofficial numbers in the School Committee race proved to be the same in the official count.

ORIGINAL STORY: Incumbent soundly defeated challenger Kevin MacDonald, while Mary Jane Byrnes and Manny Mulas earned seats on the School Committee during Saturday's Annual Town Election.

Champoux snagged his second consecutive term as he defeated MacDonald by an unofficial count of 1,476-290. 

Mulas topped the ticket with 1,028 votes for School Committee, just ahead of Byrnes' total of 961 votes. The duo will take over on the board while incumbent Mario Marchese was defeated with 846 votes.

Winning uncontested races were James Stewart for Town Moderator, Stacie Murphy for Housing Authority, James Gillis for Shawsheen Regional Vocational School Committee and Darryl MacDonald for Redevelopment Authority.

"It's very satisfying," said Champoux. "It makes me feel all the more condifent and proud of the people of Wilmington that they see that we the Board of Selectmen, and I being a part of it, are doing a good job."

Mulas ran unsuccessfully last year, and said that experience helped him meet more people in the community and prepared him for this year's run. For Byrnes, meanwhile, it was her first run for office.

"I didn't get butterflies until I heard the numbers. I'm at a loss of words, which is hard to believe for me," said Byrnes lightheartedly. "People put faith and gave their votes to me, and I hope to give them their money's worth."

Check back with Wilmington Patch on Monday for complete coverage of Saturday's election.