Incumbent selectman Beverly Wright stressed her experience over the past three years while challenger Julianne Vanderhoop emphasized helping the younger generation during a candidates forum in the old town hall Wednesday night. The town election is May 14.

A new selectman and a contested town clerk race await Tisbury voters when they head to the polls next Tuesday. The town will also vote on its first general budget override in more than 20 years.

A sparse turnout of Chilmark voters at the annual town election Wednesday overwhelmingly approved two override questions to help pay for education costs. Warren Doty was elected to a sixth term as selectman

Meet the candidates for Tisbury on Thursday, May 8, at 1 p.m. at the Tisbury Senior Center.

The public is invited to a candidates forum on Wednesday, May 7, at 7 p.m. at the Old Town Hall in Aquinnah.

Oak Bluffs voters spoke their mind on money matters in the ballot box Thursday, approving overrides for the town operating budget and a new $8.3 million fire station. But an override for the $6.8 million project to rebuild the town hall failed. Elections were also held in Edgartown and West Tisbury.

In Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, balloting takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. In West Tisbury polls are open from noon to 8 p.m. There is a selectman's race in Oak Bluffs.

For the second year in a row, at least three Island towns are facing an election season without a single contested race. Ballots are set for Chilmark, Edgartown and West Tisbury without any candidates facing opposition — in fact, some positions are lacking any candidates at all.

Vineyard voters followed the rest of the state in electing Cong. Edward J. Markey to the U.S. Senate in a special election Tuesday.

Mr. Markey, a Democrat from Malden who has spent 37 years in the House of Representatives, was elected to the senate with 55 per cent of the vote, the Boston Globe reported. His opponent was Gabriel E. Gomez of Cohasset, a businessman and former Navy SEAL.

Voter turnout on the Island averaged 32.5 per cent, higher than the statewide average of 27 per cent.

Polls will be open across the Island for an unusual June election today.

Republican Gabriel E. Gomez of Cohasset and U.S. Cong. Edward J. Markey of Malden, a Democrat, are vying to take the Senate seat vacated by John Kerry, who stepped down in January to become Secretary of State.