Voters in three Vineyard towns went to the polls last week and spoke for change, electing newcomers over incumbents in contested races for selectmen and planning board.

Standing for election and serving in town government in the twenty-first century is challenging, time consuming and very often thankless, and even those we may not always agree with deserve our gratitude for jumping into the fray.

The newly elected will soon gain an appreciation for the work of those they have defeated. May they bring the same amount of energy and selfless devotion as their predecessors did, by always acting with the best interest of their towns at heart, and never bowing to special interests.

In Oak Bluffs, Brian Packish was the top vote-getter in a three-way selectman’s race that also featured two incumbents: Walter Vail and Michael Santoro. The way the votes stacked up, in the end it was Mr. Santoro and Mr. Vail, both two-term incumbents, who battled for a seat while Mr. Packish sailed into office. In the final count, Mr. Packish had 825 votes, while Mr. Santoro and Mr. Vail trailed with 563 and 527 votes respectively. Mr. Vail lost his seat.

Oak Bluffs is the only town on the Vineyard with a five-member board of selectmen. The normally outspoken Mr. Packish was momentarily speechless with emotion at his decisive victory. “Words are a little tough right now,” he said shortly after the votes were counted in Oak Bluffs last Thursday. “The people of this town spoke enthusiastically. It takes a village. This is my village.”

In West Tisbury voters were equally decisive, electing Kent Healy over three-term incumbent Richard Knabel by a wide margin. In the final count, Mr. Healy had 409 votes, while Mr. Knabel had 248.

Mr. Healy is a newcomer to politics but not to West Tisbury, where he has lived for decades and is a well known civil engineer who has volunteered on various town advisory committees, especially to do with ponds and waterways.

In Edgartown longtime planning board member Alan Wilson was unseated by Lucy Morrison, a young Edgartown native who has worked in government at staff levels but never held elected office until now.

A resident of Chappaquiddick, Mr. Wilson has helped represent the interests of that rural island outpost, sometimes forgotten in the larger scheme of things in Edgartown.

Mr. Vail, a longtime East Chop resident, has been deeply involved for the past three years in the effort to build a new town hall — an uphill battle at times. Defeated at the ballot box two years ago, the project finally passed muster with voters this year, a very tangible accomplishment Mr. Vail can point to with pride.

Among other things, Mr. Knabel helped the town develop a much-needed plan to catch up with deferred maintenance on town buildings. He also played a leading role last year in brokering a peace deal on the heated flap over plans by the Martha’s Film Festival to relocate to a private property on Old County Road.

Public service is an uncertain business, with fickle voters constantly looking for the next candidate to bring about change to the status quo. In so doing, they often fail to credit the many unheralded accomplishments of those they would replace.

Thanks to Mr. Vail, Mr. Knabel and Mr. Wilson for their service. May they enjoy many more nights at home by the fire or out with friends and family instead of at the endless meetings which are the grist of small-town government.