In Wakefield, a Muslim woman makes history

The president ordered a travel ban. Hate crimes increased across America. And in Wakefield, Mehreen Butt, a 40-year-old public policy attorney and social justice advocate, became the first Muslim-American woman in Massachusetts to be

elected to a board of selectmen.

In a town of roughly 26,000 that for generations has been mostly white and predominantly Irish and Italian, voters hardly noticed that they were making history.

“I never heard anyone say, ‘Oh, a Muslim-American woman is running,’” said Ann Santos, 52, a second-term member of the board and a Wakefield native. “It might not have dawned on people.’’

Butt’s warmth, confidence, and interest in people attracted attention. Nobody thought to ask about her race or religion.

Butt, who dresses in pantsuits and doesn’t wear a headscarf, grew up in nearby Lynnfield, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants. Her father is a retired physician who worked at Lynn Union Hospital for 40 years; her mother was a homemaker and worked in retail after Butt and her younger sister and brother were in school.

Among the fewer than 7 percent of Wakefield residents who are minorities, the largest group — about 2.5 percent — are from Asia, according to the US Census’s American Community Survey five-year estimates for 2012-2016. Diversity in Wakefield has been growing slowly: Strong schools, a walkable downtown, and many social and recreation programs have attracted young families from across Greater Boston, and around the world.

Likewise, newcomers have been drawn to the town’s progressive sensibility: a Human Rights Commission, created three years ago, a class for newcomers called “Wakefield 101,” and annual Christmas tree and menorah lightings held on the town common.

“Not to say that we don’t have issues,” said Stephen Maio, 55, the town administrator and 50-year resident. But people in town “don’t really like intolerance.”