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ROCKPORT — Town voters have decided overwhelmingly to provide an additional $536,7836 for local schools through a Proposition 2 1/2 override, and have given longtime educator and Community Preservation Committee Vice Chairwoman Frances Fleming a seat on the Board of Selectmen.
It took officials until nearly 12:30 this morning to determine the results, and it looked more like noon time than midnight at the Town Clerk's office as dozens of school officials, candidates, and their supporters waited for the final tally.
In the end, the town approved the school override by a 511-vote margin, 1,374 to 863. That was a much more decisive approval than in 2003, when the last school override passed by just a 48-vote margin.
"It's a lot better to have a 500-vote margin than 50 because it means the town is not divided," said school activist Pam Brindamour. "Everyone worked together to make this happen."
The additional money will bridge a gap in the schools' fiscal 2011 budget created in large part by an 11.2 percent increase in special education costs, officials said. It will also allow the district to maintain its choral, chamber, and orchestra music programs — as well as other technology, drama, and art electives.
Selectmen's Race
In the wake of her convincing victory, Fleming is set to succeed Charles Clark for a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. Clark, who has served on the board for 12 years, officially bowed out with his final selectmen's meeting Tuesday night.
Fleming, the top campaign money-raiser among the five write-in candidates who emerged to seek the post, earned 868 votes — 531 more than her closest rival, Eoin Vincent, who finished second with 337 votes.
Longtime civic activist Herb Wescott took third with 281 votes, while elementary school administrative assistant Maria Clements placed fourth with 226 votes and former Selectman Jonathan Weaver finished last with 113.
"I'm thrilled," a tired, but excited Fleming said after the final vote count was announced.
Planning Board Race
Incumbent Mary-Ruth Sole was re-elected to another term on the Planning Board. But the other incumbent, Jack Heinzmann — who ran as a write-in candidate after initially opting not to run for re-election this spring — lost his seat to challenger Frederick "Ted" Tarr.
Tarr, a former selectman and Planning Board member, received 1,171 votes Tuesday, more than enough to oust Heinzmann, who garnered just 392 votes. Sole was the top vote-getter with 1,348 votes.
Above average turnout
While the turnout was not as high as Town Clerk Fred Frithsen initially projected, it was higher than average for a spring election.
Frithsen, who was re-elected to this 13th term as town clerk Tuesday, cited interest in the school override and selectmen's race when he predicted close to a 50 percent turnout.
When all the votes were tallied, 2,286 of Rockport's 5,528 registered voters cast ballots.
The 41.4 percent turnout is above average when compared to the last several spring elections when there has been 34 percent turnout.
We will update this story later today here at gloucestertimes.com if there are any new developments. For full coverage of this story, look to tomorrow's print and online editions of the Gloucester Daily Times and gloucestertimes.com.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3451, or jl'ecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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