In all, Deedy, running on the Republican ticket, received 751 votes to Phelps’ 522 votes in an election that drew just 1,272 of the town’s 6,393 registered voters. In fulfilling the three-year term, Deedy will replace board Chairman Arthur G. Pinell who chose not to run for reelection.
SOUTHWICK – Joseph J. Deedy won the vacant seat on the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night after garnering 229 more votes than his opponent, former Town Planner and independent contender Marcus G. Phelps.
“This is very exciting,” Deedy said during a victory celebration at his Feeding Hills Road business, Moolicious Ice Cream. “At no point did I think I was winning. It was a complete surprise.”
In all, Deedy, running on the Republican ticket, received 751 votes to Phelps’ 522 votes in an election that drew just 1,272 of the town’s 6,393 registered voters.
In fulfilling the three-year term, Deedy will replace board Chairman Arthur G. Pinell who chose not to run for reelection.
Deedy, a member of the Planning Board, said he will resign from that post, but not before following through on three significant projects including the Pride Gas Station, Rite Aid Drug and the Family Dollar store.
“I just have to finish voting on those, then I will resign,” he said.
In another contested race for two Library Trustee seats to fill three-year terms, Republican challenger Christopher J. Grabowski, who received 605 votes, bested incumbent Democrat Nancy M. Zdun by 120 votes with the 485 nods she received. Carol A. Geryk, also a Democrat, was reelected to the post with 622 ballots cast for her.
In all other races, incumbents running unopposed retained their seats.
George A. LeBlanc Jr. and James E. Vincent will return to the School Committee for another three years; Republican Robert K. Johnson has retained his position as assessor for a three-year term, while Republican Sharon M. Horacek will continue for another three-year term on the Cemetery Commission.
Democrat Kenneth R. Haar will also continue for three years as the Dickinson School Trustee, and Republican Edward C. Johnson will retain his three-year post on the Water Commission.
Republican incumbent Michelle Ackerman will return for another three-year term to the Parks and Recreation Commission, while Douglas A. Moglin, also a Republican, will continue on the Planning Board for another five-year term.
Unenrolled incumbent Casimir M. Tryba will return to the Board of Health for another three years and Brian P. Houlihan, a Republican, has retained his seat on the Southwick Housing Commission for a five-year term.
Democrat Kelly Magni and Republican Terrence J. Welch will once again fulfill five-year terms as constables.
Town Clerk Michelle L. Hill said she was disappointed in the 19.99 percent voter turnout and called it a “poor” showing, despite the fact that more townspeople cast votes Tuesday night than they did two years ago.
“We spend $5,000 to $7,000 for an election, and people can’t come out and vote when there is a contested Board of Selectmen race,” she asked rhetorically.