Easton Sees Low Voter Turnout For Two Contested Races

Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis said voter turnout at Tuesday's election was more than double what it was last year - but that still wasn't very good.

In all, 886 voters stopped in at to to the Board of Selectmen and in the election's two contested races. Last year saw a turnout of 414 voters, Gillis said. He said approximately six percent of Easton's voters came out Tuesday.

Finance Committee member Dan Murphy defeated Easton Republican Town Committee member Dave Nelson by a tally of 612-246, and incumbent Sandra Conant defeated Elaine Sears by a narrow margin, 377-375, according to unofficial numbers released by Gillis Tuesday. Precinct two, where Parker Terrace and Elise Circle are located, had the highest turnout with 254 voters. The next highest turnout was precinct one, which had 122 voters.

In addition to the contested races, residents cast their votes for three write-ins. Former Selectman Irwin Cohen won as a write-in for a one-year Finance Committee seat, and David Mills won as a write-in for a three-year Finance Committee seat.

Todd Gornstein, who ran unopposed, will join Murphy as a new member on the Board of Selectmen. Gornstein ran for a three-year seat formerly held by Irwin Cohen.

Additionally, Gerald Noonan won an unopposed race for a three-year Assessor position; Gilbert Heino won an unopposed race for a three-year seat on Board of Health; Caroline O'Neill and Laurie Han won unopposed races for three-year seats on the School Committee; Kimberly Dubois and Jack Waksman won unopposed races for three-year Finance committee seats; and Frederick Isleib won an unopposed race for a two-year seat on the Finance Committee.