Germain, White elected to Select Board; Benson, Chartoff and Frawley will serve on School Committee
MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro voters have returned the current chair and chosen a new face on the Select Board to fill the two available seats on the board.
Incumbent Mark Germain and newcomer Thomas White received the highest vote totals, with 903 and 856 respectively. The other incumbent in the race, Nathan Demers, placed third with 593 votes.
In the School Committee race, Allin Frawley and Jessica Chartoff will fill the two full-term seats now held by Teresa Kelly Farley and Meghan Jenness, who did not seek re-election.
Frawley received 918 votes and Chartoff earned 758. The other contender, Eric Machado, placed third with 689.
Christopher Benson was selected to fill the two-year unexpired term previously held by Richard Oakley. He received 858 votes. His opponent, Nicholas O’Roak, fell short with 382 votes.
Germain said he was at a “loss for words’’ over the vote, which earned him a second term on the board.
“I’m honored and elated to be elected to a second term,’’ he said. “I thank everyone who came out today and voted.’’
Germain was re-elected to serve as chair at the Monday, April 3 meeting. Brian Giovanoni was elected vice chair, with only Neil Rosenthal objecting.
White, who placed a close second, will sit on the board for the first time at the meeting Monday, April 3.
“I’m humbled’’ and grateful, White said. “I’m looking forward to serving the people of this community with honesty and integrity.’’
In a statement, Demers said that while losing is “tough news to hear’’ he is “ready for new opportunities this will create.’’ He said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife Mary and daughters Lillian and Arielle, “improving my business, spending time with my friends and serving the community in different capacities.’’
He said he looks forward to attending meetings “on the other side of the podium’’ and described himself as “the richest person in the world with all that I have in my life and losing an election doesn’t change that.’’
Benson, who had never run for political officer before, said he “feels great’’ with the results. “I feel it’s a win for the families of Middleboro,’’ he said.
He gave a shoutout to his campaign team, who were primarily women, which he said was appropriate since much of the campaign took place during Women’s History Month, which is March.
Chartoff said she was still “processing’’ her victory. “I’m really excited,’’ she said.
Frawley said he was “very happy with the results. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work.’’
The percentage of voters who came out, 7.3 percent, was about typical, Town Clerk Allison Ferreira said. There were 1,396 votes cast out of 19,131 registered voters.
Last year’s election turnout was 7.1 percent.
The day was bittersweet for Ferreira, who oversaw her final election. She was recently hired to be the town’s first Human Resources Director.
She said working on town elections has been “an honor.’’