SOUTHWICK – Kristi Deedy won the only contested race in the election Tuesday, beating opponent Patrick Ayotte for a term as a Southwick Library Trustee.
Planning Board Chairman Douglas Moglin was unopposed in his bid for a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen but write-in candidate Bruce Mason received 15 votes.
John Whalley was also a write-in candidate and earned a one-year term on the Parks and Recreation Commission with 94 votes. Also elected to the Parks and Recreation were incumbents Daniel Call and Jeanne Reed Waldron.
Just five percent, or 325, of the town’s 6,453 registered voters cast a ballot Tuesday. Other candidates who won seats were Maria Seddon to the School Committee, longtime Heath Commisioner Jerome Azia for a three-year term, Karen Reed for a five-year Housing Authority seat, David Meczywor for a three-year term on the Water Commission, Michael Doherty for a five-year Planning Board seat, Dean Rankin for a three-year Dickinson Trust seat, Veronica Connlly for a three-year term on the Cemetery Commission, Tammy Ciak-Bissaillon for a three-year seat on the Library Trustees, and Suzanne Davis and Tracy Meczywor each were elected to three-year terms on the Library Board of Trustees.
Moglin said he would step down from the Planning Board, although there is no law requiring him to do so. He speculated that Vice Chairperson Roz Terry would likely take over as chairperson.
“Roz would be an excellent chairperson,” Moglin said.
With the election of former associate member Michael Doherty to full membership. Moglin said another associate would be appointed.
Moglin said he has no agenda as a selectman but he said continuing the board practice of being “fiscally prudent” would be a priority.
“The tax rate is important,” he said, “and we’re about to complete a school project we’ll be paying for for many years. The sewer project is a big issue and then there’s the fire department and how to proceed there, especially with the retirement of the chief coming up next year.”
Moglin said he planned to “deal with everything as it comes” and thanked the voters for their confidence in him.
“I ran this election without spending a penny and no opposition, so I think people think I will do a good job, and I appreciate that,” Moglin said.
