Murphy Wins Select Board Special Election

Murphy to Join the Select Board

This article has been updated to include the official election results

Reading, MA — Official results from the May 14 Special Election for the open seat on the Select Board have been tallied, and Melissa Murphy has won the seat for the next year. Murphy received 3,295 votes while winning six of the eight precincts. Challenger Tara Gregory totaled 2,714 votes and won two precincts. Voter turnout was 29.1% for the election.

The seat on the board became available when former Select Board chair Jackie McCarthy unexpectedly resigned at the beginning of the board’s February 6 meeting. Murphy’s term will last until the town-wide election next April. Murphy indicated in the candidates forum on RCTV on May 9 that she intends to run for reelection to the Select Board next year.

Melissa Murphy is a 16-year resident of Reading, a former paralegal, and a Town Meeting member who previously served on the Wood End Elementary School PTO and School Council. She will join the board at its next meeting on Tuesday, May 21.

Official Results from Town Clerk Laura Gemme

2024-05-14-Local-Election-Results