Independent Selectman candidate Tracy Cesan defeated incumbent Republican Fred Arnold by 24 votes in yesterday’s town election, and the revised $70 million school project passed by 84 votes.
The debt exclusion for the project, which includes major repairs and renovations to Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School, as well as Powder Mill Middle School and Woodland Elementary School, was defeated by Southwick voters in January, while voters in Granville and Tolland approved the debt exclusion. The Massachusetts School Building Authority offered a reimbursement of more than 60 percent on the project.
After a revision that included reductions in the project, a more realistic loan rate, capital spending reductions and more MSBA incentives, the cost to taxpayers was reduced to $209 per year for 25 years from the original estimated $400.
Project supporter Jim Doyle, part of a project advocacy organization called Invest In Southwick, was “elated” when the votes were tallied. He said there was a major effort to bring a revised project to voters for approval.
“I think as a group, along with town officials and the Invest In Southwick group, there was a combination of efforts,” said Doyle.
Doyle said most original “no” voters cited the tax increase as the main reason they voted down the project, which had an original price tag of $72 million. He said while encouraging voters to support the revised project, there was an effort to make residents aware of “truthful data.”
Doyle said the main reason for the project is the children of Southwick.
“The kids win first, and when the kids win, the community wins,” he said. “The children will have a better, more complete education and the taxpayers will get better home values – everybody wins.”
The selectman race was neck and neck, with Cesan barely edging out Arnold. Some residents at Town Hall last night speculated that Arnold could ask for a recount.
“No,” said Arnold. “I do not want to cost the taxpayers more money.”
Arnold received 1,250 votes to Cesan’s 1,274. At a celebration at Roma’s Restaurant, Cesan was surrounded by family and friends, whom she credited with helping her win.
“This is my team,” Cesan said, pointing to supporters filling the room. “I didn’t win, we all won. We all worked really hard.”
Cesan said the narrow margin that won her a seat on the Board of Selectmen proves that every vote counts. It also serves as a reminder that she has more hard work ahead of her.
“I understand I won with just over half of the votes,” she said. “I’m humble enough to know I have something to prove. I want to prove to everyone that I will do the right thing.”
Cesan, administrative assistant to the Southwick Fire Department, said she will be sworn-in and begin her tenure on the board May 14. Cesan said the board will determine whether she will be allowed to receive two paychecks from the town, adding that she is “more than willing” to forego the $5,000 stipend received by selectmen.
As far as what she will do first, Cesan said she plans to “dive in” and start working immediately.
“I will be meeting with department heads and implement some of the ideas I have – and one of the first things I want to do is get the meetings taped,” she said.
Cesan thanked her supporters, especially Kelly Magni, for helping her throughout her campaign. Earlier in the day Tuesday, Cesan said even if she did not win the seat, she had already won.
“I gave voters an option, so I already accomplished my goal,” she said prior to the close of polls.
Cesan said her opponent was a gentleman.
“I thought Fred was wonderful and treated everyone with respect,” Cesan said.
Following the vote, Arnold wished Cesan and the board well.
“The people have spoken and I respect that,” said Arnold. “They wanted change and I wish Tracy and the board the best.”
Arnold served on the board for a total of more than 10 years. He was a member of the planning board and was also a volunteer firefighter and EMT. Taking time off from public service is not something he is used to, Arnold said.
“Right now it will be hard for me to not give back,” he said. “I’ll be spending time on my farm and with my family.”
Both Cesan and Arnold vocally supported the school project.
Town Clerk Michelle Hill said there are 6,221 registered voters in Southwick, and 2,769 cast votes at the polls yesterday.
“We had 1,000 voters by noon,” Hill said. “I really like seeing everyone exercise their right to vote.”
Vote counters worked long after the polls closed to count the numerous write-in candidates as the result of a snafu with getting the democratic candidates on the ballot. No democratic candidates – including all five incumbent school committee members – appeared on the ballot. Just three races were contested, the three-year School Committee seat, the Water Commission seat, and the Housing Authority seat.
School Committee incumbent Charles Condron was challenged by Darrell Cass, who was the sole name printed on the ballot for the committee. Housing Authority incumbent J. Patrick Ayotte, a democrat whose name was not on the ballot, was challenged by Joanne E. Horacek. Both incumbents lost their seats.
Cass easily defeated Condron 1,193 votes to 618, while Horacek received 1,497 votes and Ayotte had 332 votes cast in his favor. Water Commissioner incumbent Peter Jakobowski beat his opponent John J. Cashman with 1,435 and 637 votes, respectively.
