John Riordan (D)

Anthony O'Brien (D)

Ronald Davy (R)

Scott Vecchi (I)

Thomas Gorman (R)

John Gillis (D)

Francis O'Brien (D)

Norfolk County rejects change, re-elects two commissioners
Norfolk County voters have re-elected incumbent commissioners John Gillis and Francis O’Brien, both Democrats, rejecting two challengers who depicted the county government as poorly run.

Thomas Gorman, the Dedham Republican who pledged to abolish the government, blamed his loss on Independent Michael Walsh of Westwood, calling him a “straw candidate” planted by the incumbents to siphon votes from him.

Walsh scoffed at the accusation.

“I had never met Mr. Gillis or Mr. O’Brien in my life,” he said, adding, “Gorman’s just looking for someone to blame.”

“I’m a happy man,” said O’Brien, 79, who interpreted the outcome as a validation that the 28 municipalities in the county were pleased with the services they received.

But O’Brien said he was disgusted that Gorman recently attacked him for “ducking” a debate. His sister, Catherine Spada, had been in the hospital battling cancer, he said, and died Tuesday morning.

Gillis, 83, was out celebrating just before midnight and could not be reached, his wife said.

John P. Kelly may be reached at jkelly@ledger.com.

Political newcomer joins incumbents on Plymouth County Commission
John Riordan plans to spend the next three years changing the face of county government. Elected last night to his third term on the Plymouth County Commission, the Marshfield Democrat said the board has the chance to make “bigger changes than ever before” in the way municipalities look to county government.

“More and more selectmen and elected officials are realizing that county government is a huge solution to the financial woes we are facing,” he said. “Now we really have a chance to step to the plate and solve those problems.”

Riordan, who has served on the commission since 2000, captured 84 percent of the vote Tuesday in a race for two open seats on the county board.

Political newcomer Anthony O’Brien, a Whitman Democrat, won 61 percent to capture the second seat.

Commissioner Jeffrey Welch did not run for re-election.

The men will join commissioner Timothy McMullen, who will return to the three-member board after losing his primary bid to become county treasurer.

Ronald Davy, a Hull Republican, lost with 55 percent of the vote, and Plymouth Independent Scott Vecchi took fourth place with 23 percent.

For O’Brien, the victory was as pleasant as the race itself, which he called a “positive, classy and issues oriented” competition between four gentlemen.

O’Brien said he looks forward to joining a board that is “ahead of the curve” in attacking financial and communication issues within the county.

“We’ll inject a new energy,” he said. “I’m friends with both incumbents, and I know we’ll make a great team.”

The totals do not include late results from Mattapoisett, Middleboro and Plympton.