South Shore Voters Head to the Polls Today

Voters in Hanover, Norwell, and Cohasset will head to the polls today to decide contested races and financial questions that will shape the future of their communities. In addition to the races outlined below, there are also several uncontested races in each town.

Cohasset: Planning Board Race and Library Trustees

In Cohasset, the Planning Board race features two candidates with divergent views on land use regulation. Nino DiNunno, a local construction company president, is challenging incumbent Birgit Schmidt-Wesche.

DiNunno criticized the town’s updated ledge removal bylaw, calling it costly and overly bureaucratic for homeowners.

Schmidt-Wesche, the acting Planning Board chair, defended the regulations and emphasized a need for integrated, environmentally conscious planning.

Voters will also choose among four candidates—Elaine Joyce Breslow, Alexander Viteri, Melissa Mendenhall, and Susan Hobson Putziger—for the Trustees of the Paul Pratt Memorial Library.

Norwell: Override Questions and Select Board Race

Norwell voters face two significant questions on the ballot.

Question 1 seeks approval for a debt exclusion to fund the town’s share of the new South Shore Vocational Technical High School. Without it, Norwell would have to cover its portion within its operational budget.

Question 2 is a general override that would allow the town to assess an additional $3.7 million in taxes for schools, public safety, public works, and government services starting July 1, 2025.

Three candidates are competing for two Select Board seats: Mark Cleveland, Lorenda “Ren” Layne, and John McGrath.

Cleveland opposed the override, warning of a “tsunami of expenses” and advocating for service consolidation and budget restraint.

Layne and McGrath support the override. Layne called for long-term planning and improved communication tools to support economic growth.

McGrath, the current advisory board chair, emphasized transparency and fiscal modeling.

In the Assessor race, incumbent Mary Granville is challenged by Sean Joyce. Granville stressed her experience and dedication to fair assessments while Joyce positioned himself as a voice for residents on fixed incomes and young families.

Hanover: Override and Select Board Races Heat Up

Hanover voters will decide whether to enact the override budget passed at Town Meeting.

Candidates for the Select Board include Rachel Hughes and Nick Spolsino.

Hughes, who currently serves on the Advisory Committee and was recently appointed to the School Committee, supports the override and promotes long-term planning.

Spolsino opposes the override and advocates for budget reductions and reallocation of CPA funds.

Residents will also vote in contested races for the School Committee, with Chris Tracy and Andrea Hammett on the ballot, and for Library Trustee, between incumbent Tammy Tedeschi and Steven Henderson.

For more Election Day coverage, visit South Shore Times.