Incumbent unseated in close race, two newcomers voted to Lakeville Select Board

LAKEVILLE — Voters took to the polls on Monday during the annual Town Election and elected Kristen Howard and Evagelia “Lia” Fabian to serve on the Select Board, according to the Town Clerk’s official results.

Select Board incumbent Maureen Candito’s tenure on the board has ended as newcomer candidate Howard and past Select Board member Fabian received the most votes in the three-way race for two seats on the board.

Candito was up for reelection this year, and the second seat has been vacant since last May.

The Town Clerk’s office reported 9,753 eligible voters for the election, and 844 — or 8.7% — voted on Monday. Voter turnout in last year’s election came out to about 9% of 9,800 registered voters.

In the lead up to the election, one major issue facing the town has been a $2.6 million budget shortfall. The shortfall recently pushed town officials to pursue a permanent increase in property taxes to fill the gap. Economic development and how the town can use development to build a robust financial future have been a priority for all three candidates in their campaigns.

After results were released Monday night, Kristen Howard — who received 547 votes — said she hopes to be part of a “transformation” in Lakeville.

“We are in a time where we need to do something a little bit different and think outside the box,” Howard said.

“I'm energized, and I am eager to get going with some new ideas and really start asking people ‘how can we contribute and move the needle forward?’” she added.

In a razor thin race for the second seat, Candito received 437 votes and Fabian 441 according to the official count. 

Before the election, Fabian told the Nemasket Week that if elected she would “dust off” her previous goals of economic development that were sidelined by the Covid pandemic when she served on the board from 2019 to 2025.

She said once the town’s operational tax override is addressed this Summer, she hopes to “fire up” the Economic Development Committee to get the ball rolling on bringing in business that fit with the town’s rural character.

“There needs to be communication with residents so that we can explain to them that the town needs revenue sources,” Fabian said. “We also need to find out what do residents want? Where do they want [development]?"

Candito, who has served as Select Board chair since April 2025, said although she was disappointed in the close results between her and Fabian, she has the “utmost faith” in the accuracy of the town’s election process. 

She said she is proud of the work she accomplished with fellow Select Board members over the last three years. Candito said the board should focus on creating a partnership with Middleboro for shared town services, and hopes they can maximize the state grants the town has received to kickstart economic development.

“We need more businesses in town, and we need it desperately,” Candito said.