Chris Manning narrowly beat out incumbent Gary Haley for a seat on the Aquinnah select board at the annual town election Thursday.

Mr. Manning, the Gay Head lighthouse keeper and a Tisbury police officer, won by just five votes. Mr. Haley had filled the seat for three terms and never previously faced a challenger.

“I just want to say thank you to everybody who came out to vote [at] the election today,” Mr. Manning said after the ballots were counted. “I’m proud to be able to have the opportunity to serve the town, and I look forward to doing the best job I can.”

Gary Haley's campaign falls just short on election day. — Ray Ewing

Mr. Manning, 36, is a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and he previously worked as a tribal ranger. His campaign was rooted in bridging the two governments.

“The town’s relationship with the tribe has been strained for many years from various disagreements and courtroom litigations,” he told the Gazette in the lead-up to town meeting. “As an Aquinnah resident and tribal member, I have a vested interest in seeing both town and tribe succeed.”

Mr. Manning garnered 105 votes at the polls Thursday. Mr. Haley, a master electrician, received 100.

“I’ve known Gary for many years [and] I’ve counted ballots with Gary for many years at town election,” Mr. Manning said. “He’s served the town faithfully for several terms and I want to [share] my sincerest thanks to him for the service that he’s done.”

Mr. Manning comes from a civic-minded family. His sister, Kayla Darcy, serves as the town clerk and his dad, Paul Manning, is a sergeant for the town’s police department. Mr. Manning’s grandmother, June Manning, was an Island educator.

“I hope to do right by June,” Mr. Manning said after the election.

During his campaign, Mr. Manning said he wanted to usher in the next generation for Aquinnah and spoke to the many challenges facing the town.  

Voters also approved a debt exclusion to pay for repairs in up-Island schools. — Ray Ewing

He said he wanted to help quell the town’s rising taxes and find affordable housing opportunities in town.

“The housing crisis is a problem, which affects not just Aquinnah, but our entire Island, and we need to get creative in finding solutions that benefit Aquinnah’s families and increase our tax base, lowering individual taxes,” he said in a questionnaire last week.

Voters also passed a debt exclusion to help pay for repairs for the up-Island schools by a 149 to 43 vote. Sarah Thulin, a member of the planning board, was elected town moderator with 26 write-in votes.