West Wins Selectboard Seat
MANCHESTER – Jonathan West has succeeded in his challenge to incumbent Selectboard member Laurie Kunz, winning the two-year term by a close margin. According to unofficial results from the Town Clerk's, just 11 votes delivered West's victory - though the margin may be prove to be larger when results are confirmed. This article will be updated when official results are available.
Despite a deluge of rain, the Town of Manchester saw a flood of voters descending on Town Hall for both town articles and presidential primary elections on Tuesday.
Turnout is above average by all counts, which local candidates attribute to multiple contested races. Alongside the Selectboard election, incumbent Town Clerk Anita Sheldon appears to have won her race against Jessica Sherman, according to early results.
Unopposed candidates Heidi Chamberlain (for the Selectboard), Michael Nawrath (as Town Meeting Moderator), and Sarah McClintock (Trustee of Public Funds) all appear to have won as well.
Four appropriations to community organizations were approved by voters: $317,000 for the Manchester Community Library, $80,000 to Northshire Day School, $10,000 to VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region, and $4,000 for the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging.
“I think what we’ve done is re-invigorate it,” Kunz said. “I was a little worried with the low turnout at Town Meeting day, but it’s definitely not a low turnout today.”
“Giving people the opportunity to see democracy in action is a great thing,” said West, who recalls campaigning in the same spot when his father ran for office in the 80s and 90s. “It’s exciting that there’s so much passion in the community.”
Polls remained open as of press time. For updated results as they are tallied and received, visit manchesterjournal.com.
Candidates and town officials describe a constant flow of traffic at Town Hall on Tuesday. The town may even run out of ballots before voting concludes.
“We ordered the same amount of ballots that we’ve ordered for many, many years,” explained Town Clerk Anita Sheldon, “but we are seeing a higher turnout this election, which is phenomenal.”
If ballots do run out, officials will have to photocopy more, which will then need to be hand-counted. According to Sheldon, a number of absentee ballots also come in prior to Tuesday.
“This is my 36th year of doing this and I have never seen presidential primary and town voting this busy,” said Cynthia Kilburn, a Justice of the Peace. “We’re exceeding all the numbers – we’re very excited and very exhausted.”
“People are upbeat,” said resident Michael Nawrath, who served as moderator of Manchester’s floor meeting on Saturday. “It’s good to see a lot of people out despite the weather.”
At Manchester’s floor meeting on Saturday, voters approved a $6,896,427 municipal budget, an equipment fund and second dispatch center for the police department, and appropriations to multiple non-profit organizations.
The Selectboard candidates, Kunz and West, spent all of Tuesday campaigning in the rain with friends and family nearby. According to both candidates, the election will not be the end of their community involvement.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done,” said Kunz, who says she will continue to engage with the issues from the audience of Selectboard meetings if she’s not re-elected.
“That’s what’s important,” she continued. “That’s democracy. We all get to be heard.”
“The one thing I know is that this is not the end,” West said. “ I’m hopeful that we will be victorious but, ultimately, we will continue the work we’ve started.”
https://www.manchesterjournal.com/local-news/high-voter-turnout-manchester/article_c6067b6e-db32-11ee-bf70-87738ecdf67b.html
