April upsets followed fast on the heels of the March election, in which the heavily-promoted “Greater Essex” Merger failed, and Elaine Haney lost her re-election bid to challenger Tracey Delphia. 

With many more voters taking part, Merger failed by a slightly greater number of votes, and newcomer Elizabeth Cady defeated incumbent Liz Subin for the Town (outside-the-Village) seat on the Essex Westford School District Board of Directors.