Community Corner

Oak Bluffs Ousts Incumbent Selectmen

Mike Santoro and Walter Vail have been elected to the town's five-member board of selectmen.

If it was change voters were looking for, it’s change they got: Voters ousted two-term incumbents Duncan Ross and Ron DiOrio in favor of newcomers Mike Santoro and Walter Vail for positions on the Oak Bluffs Board of Selectmen.

Santoro, managing partner of Season’s Eatery & Pub on Circuit Avenue, handily topped the ballot with 704 votes cast. Retired Merrill Lynch vice president and former mortgage company owner Walter Vail trailed close behind with 652 votes.

Selectmen chairman Ross, a former town moderator and longtime Martha's Vineyard Regional High School teacher, received 385 votes. DiOrio, chairman of the Oak Bluffs affordable housing committee, received 264 votes. Seiman, a former health care facilities executive, received 88.

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The contest, perhaps the most fiercely of any on the Island this political season, was to many a referendum on the resort town’s ongoing financial woes.

Santoro and Vail will join Gail Barmakian, Gregory Coogan and Kathleen Burton on the five-member board.

Find out what's happening in Martha's Vineyardwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Though Seiman lost his bid for selectman, he successfully secured a spot on the town’s finance and advisory committee after staging dual campaigns. Seiman secured 547 votes in that contest, tied with commercial fisherman William Alwardt. Maura McGroarty received 721 votes. All are new to the finance committee. Joseph Alosso, facilities manager for the Edgartown wastewater department, narrowly lost his bid with 547 votes.

In other races, incumbent Erik Albert narrowly retained his seat on the planning board with 479 votes to challenger Kris Chvatal’s 457. Wastewater commission incumbent Gail Barmakian, also a selectman, topped challenger Mark Wallace with 745 to Wallace’s 368 votes.

Ttown clerk Deborah Ratcliff, board of health member Patricia Bergeron, school committee member Priscilla Sylvia and water district commission member Raymond Moreis Jr. all ran for reelection unopposed.

Newly elected town moderator Jesse Law III, cemetery commission member John Victor Tiernan and park commission member Amy Billings also ran unopposed.

Voter turnout was strong, with 1,163 votes cast.

A full tally of the preliminary results, announced shortly after the close of voting, can be seen below. The numbers do not reflect write-in votes.

 

MODERATOR

Jesse Law III: 894

 

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Michael Santoro: 704

Walter Vail: 652

Duncan Ross (incumbent): 385

Ronald DiOrio (incumbent): 264

Abraham Seiman: 88

 

TOWN CLERK

Deborah Ratcliff (incumbent): 928

 

BOARD OF HEALTH

Patricia Bergeron (incumbent): 953

 

CEMETERY COMMISSION

John Victor Tiernan: 778

 

PARK COMMISSION

Amy Billings: 901

 

PLANNING BOARD

Erik Albert (incumbent): 479

Kris Chvatal: 457

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Priscilla Sylvia (incumbent): 877

 

FINANCE & ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Maura McGroarty: 721

William Alwardt: 579

Abraham Seiman: 579

Joseph Alosso: 547

 

WASTEWATER COMMISSION

Gail Barmakian (incumbent):  745

Mark Wallace: 368

 

WATER DISTRICT COMMISSION

Raymond Moreis Jr. (incumbent):  891


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