MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Resident registered voters went to the polls Tuesday to send several familiar faces back to office, elect a number of new candidates and approve three ballot questions.
None of the races on the ballot were contested.
The top vote-getter was Town Moderator Alan Wilson, relected to another one-year term with 625 votes.
Jeffrey Michael Delaney is the newest member of the Select Board, receiving 582 votes. according to non-official results posted to the town website last night. He’ll replace Select Board member Becky Jacques, who deciding not to run again.
Elected to three-year seats on the Planning Board were Peter H. Morton, 506 votes, and incumbent Sarah Hammond Creighton, 517 votes.
Elected to the Library Board of Trustees were incumbent Richard Rogers, 574 votes, for a three-year term and Sarah Dunn Davis, 584 votes, for a one-year term.
Incumbent Christopher Alan Reed earned 546 votes to win another three-year term on the Manchester Essex Regional District School Committee.
Ballot questions
Voters approved the three questions on the ballot:
Use $7.5 million for financing for the town’s water system and wastewater system. Approved 595-95.
Approve Proposition 2½ measure to pay for bonds needed to pay for all costs related to the improvements to the water and wastewater systems. Approved 538-146.
Spend $660,000 in real estate and personal property taxes to pay the town’s share of the Manchester Essex Regional School District Feasibility Study for Essex Memorial School at 12 Story St. in Essex. Approved 468-214.
Of the town’s 4,335 registered voters, 708 cast ballots.
Town Clerk Dianne Bucco said 25 residents had cast ballots by early vote, Bucco said, and 800 vote-by-mail ballots had been sent out,with 315 returned as of noon Monday.
Residents gradually streamed into the gymnasium at Manchester Memorial Elementary School to vote, 152 of them as 1:56 p.m., according to Election Warden Kathy Ryan.
Ryan’s husband, Bob Ryan, was one of those voting. He said elections are a process.
“I’m impressed by anyone who does run,” he said. “I certainly hope they end up with some balance.”
Resident Nancy Delaney said the main reason she came out to vote Monday afternoon was the ballot questions.
“I feel there are some items on the ballot that need to be addressed,” she said. “I feel like we built this school (Manchester Memorial Elementary School) and we have an obligation to Essex.”
Delaney, the mother of Select Board candidate Michael Delaney, said her son’s candidacy also inspired her to vote.
Also voting were Janis Holley, Moira Dougherty, and Diane Campbell.
“I just think it’s important for residents to have their vote make a difference,” Holley said.
“It’s important to vote to just have a say about what’s going on in town,” Dougherty said .
“It’s important,” Campbell said. “I like to see friends and acquaintances on the ballot.”
Stephen Hagan can be reached at 978-675-2708 or at shagan@northofboston.com.