Kirk's vote total sets 20-year low; one third are write-ins or blanks
More than one third of voters in yesterday's local election cast either write-in or blank votes for mayor instead of choosing unopposed incumbent Carolyn Kirk, according to official election results released by the city clerk's office today.
Kirk was still the largest vote-getter in the election with 3,402 votes, or 66.3 percent, against 537 write-in votes and 1,192 blanks a combined 33.7 percent.
Of the write-in votes, 249 were cast for Daniel Ruberti, the third place finisher in the September preliminary election who had continued to campaign.
As expected, turnout in the election with few candidates and contested races was low with 5,131 voters casting ballots, 25.8 percent of the total registered.
Kirk's votes against the number of blank and write-in votes was consistent with previous uncontested local elections, but her total still set a 20-year low.
In 1997, incumbent Mayor Bruce Tobey ran unopposed and took in 3,688 votes.
As of 11 a.m. today, staff in the clerk's office were still counting write-in vote totals for candidates other than Ruberti.
For more look to the print edition of the Gloucester Daily Times tomorrow, as well as online at gloucestertimes.com. To sign up to get free breaking news text alerts, go to gloucestertimes.com/text.
