By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
With 19 candidates running for nine open seats, North Attleborough’s 2025 Town Council race drew voters out for the annual Town Election.
Kevin McCarthy and Laura Wagner were the newcomers who were voted to the council. Justin Pare was re-elected as president and Keith Lapointe was voted in as vice president after a four-year hiatus from the council. These positions were decided by the number of votes they received, with the highest and second-highest vote-getters becoming the new council president and vice president.
History was made with the appointment of Lyndsey Benharris, Cari Orsi and Colleen Endres, as the School Committee will now have a majority of female members.
See the election results here.
Council to set future goals
Pare secured another term as president by bringing in the highest number of votes at 2,002, with Lapointe not far behind at 1,829 votes to become its vice president. Andrea Slobogan had a strong third place finish with 1,768 votes, followed by current council Vice President John Simmons.
Pare said he was “thrilled” and “honored” to be elected to the council for a fourth term, his third as president. For now, Pare is focused on finishing this fiscal year’s budget and will meet with the new council in July to define priorities and goals for the upcoming years.
“I’m excited by the opportunity to continue with this key leadership team on council, and welcome the new members. I can’t wait to hear their ideas and contributions they want to make in the new year,” said Pare.
Lapointe called North Attleborough “a special place in which people care about the past, present and future” and expressed excitement to be back on the council with a great group of councilors.
“I am looking forward to helping create an environment in which the council collaborates with each other and with the community,” said Lapointe. “There is great work happening and I am looking forward to helping.”
Simmons thanked the residents who put their trust in him, calling it “an honor to be re-elected to my fourth term on council.” He told the North Star Reporter tha he hopes to focus on economic development and improving communication between municipal boards and the council.
Incumbents John Costello, Daniel Donovan and Mark Gould Jr. were also re-elected to the council, with Gould gathering 1,205 votes to take the ninth and final open seat. Patricia St. Pierre was the only councilor who did not win re-election, falling short of the last spot by 165 votes.
In a message to the residents of North Attleborough, Gould promised to keep listening and asking questions.
“Thank you,” said Gould. “Your vote wasn’t just for me – it was for the idea that independent thinking matters and that town government should work for everyone.”
Donovan looks to continue his work on the council to improve the town’s financial stability and bond rating, and had a message for the residents of North Attleborough who did — and did not — vote for him.
“To everyone who voted for me, thank you. I will continue to represent you to the best of my ability,” said Donovan. “To everyone who didn’t vote for me, I am your representative too. I will do my utmost to ensure that your voices are heard and that I earn your confidence as well.”
The two new members on the council, McCarthy and Wagner, brought in 1,395 votes and 1,256 votes each, respectively. McCarthy is known in North Attleborough for his role in spearheading the construction of a new dog park in 2022, along with his involvement in Scouting America. Wagner brings with her a wealth of knowledge as a former executive director in the nonprofit sector, along with previous experience as a two-term city councilor in Marlborough.
Wagner thanked the North Attleborough Federation of Teachers Union for its support, and wants to focus on taking care of all town employees, along with the vulnerable populations of North Attleborough, while also investing in infrastructure and planning for the future.
“I’m honored to be given the trust of this community and I promise to work hard and not disappoint,” said Wagner. “We can continue to build a strong education and economic foundation while also taking care of each other along the way.”
In a statement posted to his Facebook page, McCarthy thanked his supporters and family and said: “I look forward to working alongside my fellow council members, embracing this journey with an open mind, a willingness to learn and a commitment to teamwork. Everyday, I will strive to serve with integrity, dedication and pride.”
New committee makes history
In the School Committee race, Benharris placed first with 1,759 votes, followed by Orsi and Endres. Although voters could only choose two candidates to vote for, Lapointe’s Town Council win required him to resign from his seat on the committee, making room for all three women to serve.
This will be the first time North Attleborough has a female majority-run School Committee, with Benharris, Orsi and Endres joining Tasha Buzzell, Sarah Stone, Gideon Gaudette and Charlie Peters on the committee.
Endres, who has years of experience working for the nonprofit Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, called watching her fellow community members come out to vote “really powerful,” and is looking forward to joining the School Committee to continue supporting staff and students to ensure they reach their full potential.
In a previous interview with the North Star Reporter, both Orsi and Benharris cited communication and listening to voters as their top priorities. Orsi brings with her a strong background as a civil engineer who has worked on numerous Massachusetts School Building Authority projects, and Benharris currently serves as chair for the Education Department at Stonehill College.
“It’s going to be a really exciting time with a lot of collaboration,” said Benharris. “Community members want someone who listens, and that’s something all three of us have as our main focus. We need to listen first, and I’m committed to ensuring that every child in North Attleborough has access to the resources and opportunities that they need to succeed.”
Steven Cabral ran uncontested for the Board of Electric Commissioners, along with Paul Rofino for the Park Commission. The second write-in candidate to serve alongside Cabral and the two write-in candidates for Board of Public Works have not yet been announced.