West Tisbury, Edgartown Elect Fresh Faces

Contested races were few and far between in Edgartown and West Tisbury's Thursday elections, but many of those that did feature a full slate of candidates elevated newcomers to public office.

In Edgartown, three challengers swept two races for the library board of trustees. Robert Avakian and Deanna Ahearn-Laird ousted incumbents Ann Tyra and current chairman Patricia Haynes Rose in a four-way contest for two three-year seats. Avakian racked up the most votes, with 305. Ahearn-Laird received 250 votes. Tyra and Rose received 218 and 181 votes, respectively.

Voters also elected Julie Lively to a one-year term on the library board over incumbent Ellen Kaplan. Lively topped Kaplan with 285 votes to Kaplan’s 176.

Newcomer Leslie Baynes was elected to the financial advisory committee with 303 votes. He joins incumbent Donna Lowell-Bettencourt, who retained her seat with 341 ballots cast in her favor. Bruce Stone lost his bid with 156 votes.

All other races were uncontested.

A total of 515 out of 3,107 registered voters cast ballots in the election, a 16.58 percent turnout.

West Tisbury’s election featured only one contested race, for the finance committee. Three newcomers vied for two open positions. Gary Montrowl, with 204 votes, and Katherine Triantafillou, with 191 votes, were elected to the committee. Joseph Gervais received 87 votes.

Two hundred and ninety-six of West Tisbury’s 2,325 registered voters cast ballots.

A complete list of Edgartown and West Tisbury's election results appears below. 

EDGARTOWN ELECTION RESULTS

BOARD OF ASSESSORS

Alan Gowell (incumbent): 439

BOARD OF HEALTH

Kathleen Case (incumbent): 434

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Margaret Serpa (incumbent): 402

CONSTABLE

Jonathan Searle (incumbent): 438

FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (vote two)

Donna Lowell-Bettencourt (incumbent): 341

Leslie Baynes: 303

Bruce Stone: 156

LIBRARY TRUSTEES, THREE-YEAR TERM (vote two)

Robert Avakian: 305

Deanna Ahearn-Laird: 250

Ann Tyra (incumbent): 218

Patricia Haynes Rose (incumbent): 181

LIBRARY TRUSTEES, ONE-YEAR TERM (vote one)

Julie Lively: 285

Ellen Kaplan (incumbent): 176

MODERATOR

Phillip Norton Jr. (incumbent): 456

PARK COMMISSION

Jane Varkonda (incumbent): 420

PLANNING BOARD

Michael Jon McCourt (incumbent): 379

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Susan Mercier (incumbent): 419

WASTEWATER TREATMENT COMMISSION

James K Carter (incumbent): 391

WATER COMMISSION

Robert Burnham (incumbent): 411

BALLOT QUESTION #1

Shall the Town of Edgartown be allowed to assess an additional 140,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of resurfacing and rebuilding various town streets for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2011?

Yes: 364

No: 136

BALLOT QUESTION #2

Shall the Town of Edgartown be allowed to assess an additional $55,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of building and repairing various town sidewalks, bike paths and storm water drainage systems for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2011?

Yes: 376

No: 126

BALLOT QUESTION #3

Shall the Town of Edgartown be allowed to assess an additional $98,000 to purchase an additional backhoe for the highway department for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2011?

Yes: 297

No: 200

WEST TISBURY ELECTION RESULTS

MODERATOR

F. Patrick Gregory (incumbent): 254

SELECTMAN

Richard Knabel (incumbent): 201

BOARD OF HEALTH

Erik Lowe (incumbent): 242

BOARD OF ASSESSORS

Robert Mone (incumbent): 221

TREASURER

Katherine Logue (incumbent): 257

TAX COLLECTOR

Brent Taylor (incumbent): 242

TOWN CLERK

Tara Whiting (incumbent): 266

TREE WARDEN

Jeremiah Armstrong Brown (incumbent): 247

LIBRARY TRUSTEE (vote two)

Linda Hearn (incumbent): 228

Gina Solon: 170

FINANCE COMMITTEE (vote two)

Gary Montrowl: 204

Katherine Triantafillou: 191

Joseph Gervais: 87

PLANNING BOARD

Leah Smith (incumbent): 237

CONSTABLE

Timothy Maley (incumbent): 254

LAND BANK COMMISSIONER

Glen Hearn (incumbent): 235

PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, THREE-YEAR TERM (vote two)

Cheryl Lowe (incumbent): 238

Suzanne Hammond: 216

PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, TWO-YEAR TERM

Mark “Hap” Bernard: 220

PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, ONE-YEAR TERM

Lisa Amols: 227