MANCHESTER — Faced with no ballot questions and only one contested race for office, just 239 voters — 7 percent of those registered — turned out at the polls Tuesday for the annual town election. It was the lowest participation rate in more than 20 years.
In the only contested race, incumbent Robert Atwater Jr. defeated challenger Ronald Mastrogiacomo, 135-86, to remain on the Planning Board for a one-year term.
Running unopposed to return to the Board of Selectmen after a five-year absence, Lee Spence picked up 165 votes and will join incumbent Bryan Gubbins, who received 179 votes. Gubbins has been a selectman since 2004.
Spence said yesterday that he was excited about walking in the annual Memorial Day parade as a selectman and working to address issues of concern to the town once he's sworn in.
"The first meeting is in two weeks, but the first parade is Monday," Spence said. "The board has worked well for the last couple of years and I am looking forward to getting up to speed and seeing what I can do."
Town Clerk Gretchen Wood said the 7 percent turnout was the lowest since she began working in the clerk's office 20 years ago.
Last year, with two seats on the School Committee the only contest and no referendums on the ballot, 400 voters, or 11 percent of those registered, turned up at the polls. School Committee and Planning Board seats were the only contested items on the ballot in 2006, when 389 voters, or 11 percent of those registered, also turned out.
A ballot question on adopting a property tax surcharge as part of the Community Preservation Act drove 1,136 voters to the polls in 2005, 30 percent of those registered. In 2004, an override vote drew 1,305 voters, 34 percent of those registered.
In this year's uncontested races, veteran Town Moderator Alan Wilson drew 214 votes, the most of any candidate on the ballot. The second highest total went to incumbent Assessor William Frothingham, who drew 197 votes.
Patrick Anderson may be contacted at panderson@gloucestertimes.com.
2008 Manchester election results
Office Term Winner Votes
Assessor 3 years William Frothingham 197
Assessor 1 year Jude Flynn 179
Housing Authority 5 years Bruce MacDonald 183
Library Trustee 3 years Richard Rogers 181
Moderator 1 year Alan Wilson 214
Planning Board 3 years Loren Coons 175
Planning Board 3 years Maria Menendez 161
Planning Board 2 years Carroll Cabot 164
Planning Board 2 years Peter Willwerth 185
Planning Board* 1 year Robert Atwater Jr. 135
Planning Board* 1 year Ronald Mastrogiacomo 86
School Committee 3 years Susan Beckman 191
Board of Selectmen 3 years Bryan Gubbins 179
Board of Selectmen 3 years Lee Spence 165
* Contested seat; Atwater wins.
