Billerica and Tewksbury held  their annual town elections yesterday. Incumbents carried the day in Tewksbury while a newcomer broke into the ranks in Billerica.

In a three-way race  for Selectman – challenger George Simolaris topped the ballot taking over 41 percent of the votes – 4,639, followed by incumbent Mike Rosa at over 38 percent – 4,349 while long-term incumbent Bob Correnti trailed at just under 20 present. This comes after a battle last fall over changes to the town center. In a close contest for the Planning Board, incumbents Robert Casey and David  Kinsella were victorious as was newcomer Matt Battcock. There was no contest in the school committee race. Over 6,300 ballots were cast in Saturday’s election. The vote total represented a  nearly 25 percent turnout at the polls.

In a six-way race for two seats on the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen, incumbent Todd Johnson topped the race with 1,524 votes. He will be joined on the BOS by challenger Jim Wentworth who garnered 1,149. School Committee chairman Krissy Polimino won reelection with 2,039 votes – she will be joined by challenger Lisa Puccia. In the race for the Shawsheen Tech School Committee, long time incumbent Patricia Muse won easily over challenger Rick O’Neill; Raymond Barry won a seat on the Board of Health along with incumbents Christine McKinnon and Phil French. There were no challengers for Library Trustee – Eugene Walsh and Joseph Frank return and longtime planning board member Bob Fowler  was unchallenged. A total of 2,744 ballots were cast for a slightly over 13 percent turnout.