SALEM — The last time the city held an election, 89 percent of eligible registered voters marked the occasion by staying home.
A record-low 610 people actually voted in September's preliminary election for City Council.
Tomorrow, with Mayor Kim Driscoll all but guaranteed to win a second term and only three contested City Council races, no one is predicting a record turnout — but they're hoping voters do perform their civic duty.
"I really hope the turnout is a lot stronger than we'd otherwise think it would be," said Ward 5 City Councilor Matt Veno, who's stepping down after his term expires in January.
Unlike neighboring Beverly and Lynn, which are both facing highly visible, contentious mayoral races, the tone is unusually quiet in Salem.
Candidates may be out holding signs and campaigning door to door, but no neighborhood association or third-party group has organized a debate or candidates' forum for the citywide, six-way councilor-at-large race.
"It has been very quiet," Salem Common Neighborhood Association President Michael Coleman said. "It just doesn't have the excitement that it's had in previous years."
The calendar hasn't helped. The preliminary election was just eight days after Labor Day, forcing candidates to do most of their campaigning in the summer when many are away.
In the final weekend before tomorrow's election, candidates had to fight to make an impression against a mob of out-of-town, costumed Halloween revelers.
"It was a perfect storm for the last weekend before the election," Coleman said. "They'll get to see lots of people who might be voters, but they're not voters in Salem."
Plus, many political spectators are already focused on the special election for U.S. Senate in December, or even the governor's race in 2010.
Of course, many incumbents, including Ward 7 City Councilor Joseph O'Keefe, contend the political calm can be interpreted as a silent endorsement of the city's current leadership.
"I think people are happy," said O'Keefe, who's unopposed in tomorrow's election. "There may be ups and downs and hiccups, but I think collectively, we're all doing what's right for the city and the future of Salem."
"It's a tough environment for any incumbent office-holder right now," Veno said. "I think that makes it especially noteworthy in Salem that it's so quiet."
City Clerk Cheryl Lapointe remains hopeful that the turnout will be brisk, but she concedes it has been pretty quiet.
"It's disheartening when you go into a poll and it's so stark quiet that you can hear a pin drop and there's no one coming through the door," Lapointe said. "This is their city."
Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@salemnews.com.
November voter turnout in salem
200730 percent
2005*60 percent
200337 percent
* Election included a contested race for mayor.
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