Tisbury voters elected Jeff Kristal over Seth Gambino as their new selectman at the annual town election Tuesday.
Mr. Kristal, a finance committee member and former two-term selectman, narrowly beat out Mr. Gambino, a newcomer to politics. The vote was 490-462.
Mr. Gambino did have a surprise win when he was elected to the finance committee with seven write-in votes.
In other contests, David Dandridge unseated incumbent assessor Angela Cywinski 538-388. Ms. Cywinksi and other Tisbury assessors were in the public spotlight this year over their decision to tax a number of nonprofits in town, including the Vineyard Playhouse. The decision was recently reversed for the playhouse and some other nonprofits.
In a three-way race for the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank commission, Nancy Weaver prevailed over Nora Nevin and Lynne Fraker. The vote totals were 476 for Ms. Weaver, 171 for Ms. Nevin and 205 for Ms. Fraker.
Lesley Segal was elected to a three-year term on the finance and advisory committee with 734 votes. With three open seats, Ms. Segal was the only candidate on the ballot. Two write-in candidates were elected to fill the other seats: Patricia Hand with 12 votes, and Mr. Gambino with seven.
“It was a last-minute thing,” Mr. Gambino said Wednesday morning. “I’m excited for it.”
After the votes were counted Tuesday night, Mr. Kristal said he was ready to get to work as a selectman again. “I want to thank the Tisbury voters for coming out and putting me back into the board,” he said. “I think we have a lot to look forward to in the town of Tisbury.”
The selectman’s seat was up for grabs after longtime selectman Tristan Israel decided to not run for reelection.
Voting was steady on a cool, cloudy day with the sun breaking out in late afternoon. A total of 975 voters cast ballots, a 28 per cent turnout. There are 3,489 registered voters.
Candidates campaigned throughout the day outside the emergency services facility where polling took place.
Three ballot questions to override the Proposition 2 1/2 tax cap also easily won approval:
• A $650,000 wastewater spending package passed 658-265;
• A $400,000 spending initiative to restart the project to renovate or rebuild the Tisbury School passed 719-224;
• The town’s share of a $1.4 million feasibility study for a new high school was approved 522-423.
Also elected without contest were:
Michael Loberg, board of health, 735; Michael Watts, school committee, 693; Elmer Silva, water commissioner, 780; Cheryl Doble, planning board, 742; Larry Gomez, finance and advisory committee (two-year term), 749. James Norton and Archibald Smith were elected for three-year terms as library trustees. Ian Aitchison was also elected with 13 write-in votes.
Michael Ciancio was re-elected to a three-year term as constable and was top vote-getter with 781 votes.
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