Louraine wins Belchertown Select Board seat in special election

BELCHERTOWN — A longtime resident who has managed the town’s community television station is joining the Select Board.

Margaret D. “Peg” Louraine of Federal Street earned election to the board in a three-way race for the vacant seat at Monday’s special town election, according to unofficial results provided by the town clerk’s office.

Louraine collected 1,168 votes, or almost 55% of the votes cast, outpacing Lisa J. Lessard Pearson of South Street, with 723 votes, and Curtis B. Carroll of Main Street, with 237 votes. Just over 18% of voters participated in the election.

“I am humbled by the trust placed in me and eager to start work,” Louraine wrote in an email Tuesday.

Louraine will attend board meetings next week and the following week. In addition, she will meet with department heads and colleagues as she prepares for the job.

“My sense of message from the voters was a desire for common sense and fairness on the board,” Louraine said.

Louraine fills the seat vacated by Nicholas Pucel, who resigned in May following its decision, and his vote in favor, of not renewing the contract of Town Administrator Gary Brougham, and setting the stage for a transition to a town manager position.

Since Pucel’s departure, there have been a number of deadlocked votes by the five-member board, meaning that Louraine will be a decisive vote on some matters.