Edgartown voters elected a native son as town moderator in an unusual annual town election Tuesday that also saw two ballot questions approved, one on spending.
Steve Ewing, town poet laureate and dockbuilder, was a write-in candidate for the moderator position, which became open following the death of moderator Sean Murphy in April. At the time of his death, Mr. Murphy’s name was already on the ballot, creating an unusual situation where the outcome of the election would be decided by write-in votes.
Mr. Ewing received 195 write-in votes. Juliet Mulinare, who works as the town dredge assistant, received eight write-in votes. Mr. Murphy received 47 posthumous votes.
All other races on the ballot were uncontested.
The two ballot questions will allow the town to move forward with its Memorial Wharf capital improvement project and switch the town tax collector position from elected to appointed.
Both measures were overwhelmingly approved at town meeting Saturday, and required a majority vote at the ballot box.
Question one — approved 297 to 30 — sought backing for a town borrowing package on the $2.85 million project to overhaul and raise Memorial Wharf. The project is being financed by a combination of free cash and bonds, as well as a $1 million state grant the town received earlier this year.
Voters also approved question two by a wide margin (248 to 82) which will switch the town tax collector position from elected to appointed. The measure is part of a broader town effort to integrate the tax collector and treasurer departments in town.
The election saw low turnout, with 336 of the town’s 4,198 registered voters casting ballots. Total turnout was eight per cent.
Elected without contest were:
Arthur Smadbeck, selectman, 268 votes.
Christopher Scott, board of assessors, 288 votes.
Christopher Edwards, board of health, three-year term, 277 votes.
Candace A. Nichols, board of health, one year term, 251 votes.
Scott A. Ellis, town constable, 293 votes.
Robert Coad, financial advisory committee, 254 votes.
Paul Pertile, financial advisory committee, 250 votes.
Nedine Cunningham, financial advisory committee, 243 votes.
Juliet Lively, library trustee, 267 votes.
Steve Ewing, land bank commission, 299 votes.
Richard A. Kelly, parks commissioner, 275 votes.
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