Burga Upset in Weymouth’s Municipal Election; Happel Tops Council At-Large Field

Molisse Elected Mayor Unopposed

WEYMOUTH - November 4 - In a stunning defeat Tuesday night, Council Vice President Pascale Burga lost her bid for re-election in District 1, falling to challenger Kathy Rober Kelly 932-812.

Burga, who had been expected to ascend to Council President until the January reorganization following Mayor Robert Hedlund’s retirement, saw her political trajectory derailed in one of the night’s biggest surprises.

In the mayoral race, Michael Molisse cruised to victory unopposed with 6,699 votes, easily capturing the town’s top post.

The Council-At-Large race saw five candidates win seats. Frederick James Happel led the field with 5,229 votes, followed by Stephen Shinney (4,641), H. Richard Coughlin (4,452), Christopher Michael Heffernan (4,391), and Andrew Ryan Donovan (4,307). Alyson Dossett (3,869) and James M. Melody, who passed away a month ago, (2,301) fell short.

In other district council races, all incumbents appeared headed to victory: Kenneth Joseph DiFazio in District 3 (895 votes), Arthur E. Mathews in District 4 (802), Gary J. MacDougall in District 5 (943), and Carrie Marie Palazzo in District 6 (890). Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw won District 2 with 792 votes over Edward Steven Cowen’s 445.

For School Committee, Kelly Ann McClean led the three-seat race with 4,346 votes, followed by Cindy M. Lyons (3,970) and Ashley Theresa Dickerman (3,425).