Mirroring the heated electoral mood around the country, Vineyard voters turned out in unusually large numbers Tuesday to elect a new clerk for the superior court and a fresh slate for the Dukes County commission that includes an 18-year-old from Edgartown.
Vineyard Haven attorney T. George Davis will succeed retiring longtime court clerk Joseph E. Sollitto Jr. in January. Mr. Davis, a Democrat, prevailed by a wide margin over his opponent Anthony Piland, a physician’s assistant also from Vineyard Haven, who ran as an unenrolled candidate.
According to preliminary results from Island town clerks, Mr. Davis won all six Island towns and the town of Gosnold with a total of 7,563 votes over 2,128 votes for Mr. Piland.
“I’m really happy about the results . . . it’s been a long haul, six months of campaigning,” Mr. Davis told the Gazette by phone after the votes were counted late Tuesday evening. “I’m very grateful to the voters and I look forward to taking office in January.”
In the only other contested local race, seven county commissioners were elected — five incumbents and two newcomers. Keith Chatinover of Edgartown, a recent graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School who will enroll at Middlebury College this winter, was elected to a seat along with John Cahill, a Tisbury businessman. Also elected were incumbents John Alley, Christine Todd, Gretchen Underwood, Leon Brathwaite and Tristan Israel. Incumbent Robert Zeltzer lost his seat by seven votes to Mr. Israel.
Island voters also helped reelect Cape and Islands state Sen. Julian Cyr, a Truro Democrat, to a second term by a wide margin, and threw their strong support to incumbent ninth district U.S. Rep. Bill Keating and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who was one of the first declared winners statewide. The Island also voted overall to re-elect Gov. Charlie Baker, though the three up-Island towns went narrowly for his Democratic challenger, Jay Gonzalez. The popular Republican governor and his running mate Lieut. Gov. Karen Polito won easily statewide and captured 5,534 votes on the Island, while Mr. Gonzalez had 4,432 votes, according to preliminary results.
In other key issues, Vineyard voters narrowly rejected Question 1, the state ballot initiative to limit the nurse-patient ratio in hospitals, by a vote of 4,699 in favor and 5,090 against. The measure was soundly defeated statewide. Island voters also joined with the rest of the state in voting overwhelmingly to keep laws intact to protect the rights of people who are transgender.
Election day weather was mild and blustery with drizzle, fog and light rain. Voting was heavy from morning to night at every Island polling station.
While voter turnout in presidential elections has topped 80 per cent in years past, midterm elections typically fall far short of that.
On Tuesday, turnout in every Island town was 64 per cent or higher, with West Tisbury topping out at 75 per cent. Turnout on Gosnold, the seventh town in Dukes County made up of the Elizabeth islands, was 44 per cent. By comparison, turnout on the Island was 52 per cent in 2014. West Tisbury claimed the highest turnout four years ago with 58 per cent of the electorate casting ballots
In Oak Bluffs the line started early and remained out the door all day.
In Aquinnah, the Island’s smallest town, turnout reached 72 per cent, with 267 of the 371 registered voters casting ballots.
“I hope this is one example of what’s happening in small communities around the country, letting them know that we count,” said longtime Aquinnah resident Len Butler.
“We’ve had booths full or a small line all day,” West Tisbury town clerk Tara Whiting said. “It seems like the whole country has been energized to vote and that’s a great thing.”
In Tisbury poll worker Ken Eber reported seeing many first-time voters. “One thing they all have in common is they are all very excited and seem to be very interested in this election and believe their vote is important,” he said.
“No lull,” Tisbury town clerk Hillary Conklin said, describing the turnout.
Early in the day the automatic voting machine in Tisbury was temperamental, and Ms. Conklin scrambled to fix the problem and keep the peace as voters lined up around the public safety building, paper ballots in hand. After the polls closed, counting was delayed while all the ballots from early voting were fed into the overworked machine.
In Edgartown, Wanda Williams was watching over the ballot box in her last election as town clerk. Ms. Williams will retire on Nov. 30.
“This has been a really busy day,” the longtime town clerk said.
Early-morning voters who cast ballots spoke out.
“I voted because I felt we need a change, and this is my opportunity,” said Chris Rasmussen in Tisbury.
“I think we’ve seen where apathy gets us,” said Molly Kiely who was voting for the first time in Massachusetts.
“I vote in every election. You can’t complain if you don’t vote. Well, you can, but not with a clean conscience,” said Davies Millett.
Landry Harlan, Holly Pretsky, Steve Myrick, Noah Asimow, Vivian Ewing and Bill Eville contributed reporting.
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