Incumbent Joseph Story won a second term as Newbury selectman yesterday, and Triton Regional School Committee Vice Chairman Diana "Dina" Sullivan won a decisive victory over her opponent.
The 58-year-old Story defeated challenger Steven St. Arnault 741-667, winning in both town precincts — although only 10 votes separated the candidates in Byfield.
In the contest for Newbury's Triton School Committee seat, Sullivan, 44, defeated fellow Byfield resident William Levasseur 1,487 to 691.
In Rowley, incumbent Jack Cook took another 3-year term on the Board of Selectmen, and voters chose Robert L. Snow over Thomas Heidgerd to fill the second open selectman seat formerly held by Thomas Moses.
It was a close election between Cook, who received 519 votes, and Heidgerd with 475 votes, with a slightly more decisive margin for Snow with 609 votes.
"I'm at a loss for words," said Snow upon hearing the results. "It's a good feeling. It's kind of humbling because people have put their trust in me."
Snow and Heidgerd were both on hand to hear election results at 8:30 p.m. from Town Clerk Susan Hazen, and despite his disappointing loss, Heidgerd says he'll make another run sometime in the future.
"It was a close vote," said Heidgerd, who was a bit puzzled by 385 "blank" votes counted in the town's race for selectmen.
"It's an interesting outcome," he said. "We try again, that's all. I'll continue my work on the Zoning Board, and doing good things there for the town."
Fire Chief James Broderick was thrilled with the passage of the Fire Department's Debt Exclusion override, which passed by a margin of 368 votes, and if passed at Town Meeting will allow for the purchase of a new $450,000 pumper truck.
"I was cautiously optimistic," said Broderick, who expressed relief that the majority of town residents agreed to bolster the town's aging fleet of fire trucks. He's said all along that the toughest part of passing the debt exclusion would be getting folks to vote "yes" on the Question No. 1 referendum.
"This was the most difficult part," Broderick said. "There's a good margin there, so I feel good about that."
Broderick said the issue will now be put to a vote at next week's Town Meeting on Monday, May 19. If it passes at that time, Broderick said the funds won't be made available for the purchase until July, at which time the department will begin seeking bids from manufacturers.
Selectman Jack Cook could not be reached for comment yesterday evening.
In Newbury, Story defeated St. Arnault 423-359 in Precinct 1, which covers Plum Island and Oldtown, and squeaked out a 318-308 victory in Precinct 2, Byfield.
"It's all about the people who worked for me, and I want to thank them," Story said after the votes were counted. "I also want to thank the people who voted for me."
St. Arnault said, "I appreciate all the support, both financial and volunteer time. I worked hard and left no stone unturned."
St. Arnault, 46, said he was "not sure at this point," whether he would run again.
"I'm thrilled," Sullivan said, after her impressive margin in Newbury and her lead in Salisbury seemed to seal her win. "I'm grateful to be able to serve a second term."
Levasseur was disappointed with his vote total but said he would stay involved with the Triton Regional School District as a resident and parent. He said he might run again, "if I'm asked."
The selectman and School Committee seats were the only contests on the Newbury ballot yesterday. The town recorded a 29.2 percent voter turnout, as 1,423 of the town's 4,870 registered voters went to the polls, said Town Clerk Donna Stefanile and Assistant Town Clerk Anne Hatheway.
