Elmasian, Archambault Victorious in Seekonk Election

Political newcomers Elizabeth Elmasian and Robert Achambault were victorious in their campaign to win two three year seats on the Select Board.  Elmasian won 943 votes, Archambault won 903 votes. Incumbent board member Michelle Hines trailed with 530 votes.

1321 ballots were cast on Monday. That figure is less than 10 percent of the town’s eligible voters. 

“I’m very surprised about the results,” Elmasian said. “I’m very happy about the results. I have hope that we’re going to pull Seekonk back together.”

Over the past several weeks, Elmasian and Archambault had been the subject of unflattering posts by an anonymous blogger.  “I didn’t anticipate any of this,” Elmasian noted. “The message that I received was that I was perceived as a threat. I was shocked.”

The blogger also posted a video taken at the Senior Center, which claimed to depict Elmasian in an altercation with a town employee.  “I will get to the bottom of it through an investigation,” Elmasian said. “I didn’t mistreat someone at the Senior Center. They wouldn’t allow me in. They would not allow me in to attend a Veterans’ (event). Bob was inside, Michelle was in the building, I was excluded.”

Archambault was also dismayed by the smear campaign. “I expected more decency from people,” he said. ”It caught me off guard. I think people are sick of the negativity.”

All other races were uncontested.

• Town Clerk Kristen P. L'Heureux won re-election to a three year term.
• Michael Durkay ran unopposed to serve as Town Moderator.
• Robert Anthony Stoops won a seat on the Water Commission.
• Janet Ruth Parker won re-election to the Board of Assessors.
• Fred A. Slemon, Jr. and Catherine Elizabeth Capello won re-election to the Board of Library Trustees.
• Sandra F. Escaler won re-election to the Planning Board.
• Andrew J. Tessier won election to the Seekonk School Committee.