Election ushers in new Select Board member in Sunderland
Published: 05-18-2023 4:35 PM |
SUNDERLAND — Residents elected a new Select Board member and gave the green light to a capital override request during the May 6 town election.
In an uncontested race, voters elected Easthampton City Engineer Dan Murphy to a three-year Select Board seat with 158 votes. Murphy replaces longtime member Tom Fydenkevez, who opted not to run again after 24 years of service. Residents also approved a $275,000 capital override, 124 votes to 66. Voter turnout was 8.1% as 192 voters out of 2,383 cast their ballots.
Murphy, who is currently on the Conservation Commission and previously served on the Planning Board and Finance Committee, has lived in Sunderland since 2001 with his wife, Lorna, and their two kids, who attend Sunderland Elementary and Frontier Regional schools. He said his top priorities are getting a handle on transportation options in the community and trying to get more feedback out of the numerous renters living in the town’s apartment complexes.
The $275,000 capital override, to be assessed from real estate and personal property taxes, will support the Capital Stabilization Fund for future projects, according to Town Administrator Geoff Kravitz. Residents previously approved the override at the April 28 annual Town Meeting.
All other races on the ballot were uncontested and the results are as follows:
■Moderator, one-year term — David Pierce, 162 votes.
■Board of Assessors, three-year term — Mary Ann Kowaleck, 155 votes.
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■Board of Health, three-year term — Bruce Bennett, 166 votes.
■Sunderland Elementary School Committee, two seats with three-year terms — Joseph Elias and Amanda Wygant, 156 and 151 votes, respectively.
■Riverside Cemetery trustee, three-year term — Janet Sawyer-Bergeron, 153 votes.
■Planning Board, five-year term — Amanda Hanley, 157 votes.
■Planning Board, one-year term — Douglas Fulton, 154 votes.
■Sunderland Public Library trustees, three seats with three-year terms — Molly Gowa, Kristyn Korpita and Valerie Voorheis, 151, 157 and 148 votes, respectively.