BRATTLEBORO — Residents opposed taking steps to create a mayoral system in a 1,722-529 vote Tuesday.
A ballot article asked voters if the Select Board should be advised to amend the town charter to move from a town manager system to a mayoral structure.
Select Board member Elizabeth McLoughlin won a three-year seat on the Select Board, securing 1,838 votes compared to 1,255 for incumbent David Schoales and 203 for Rikki Risatti.
Select Board member Daniel Quipp and newcomer Ian Goodnow, an alternate on the town's Development Review Board, won one-year seats on the Select Board. Quipp took 1,652 votes and Goodnow had 1,455 — compared to 1,279 for Oscar Heller, 811 for Kurt Daims and 426 for Risatti.
"I'm really happy to be re-elected," Quipp said. "I'm looking forward to working on the board this year to do good for the people of Brattleboro."
Goodnow said he's "really excited."
"It was a great campaign with great candidates," he said. "I'm excited to get started working for the town."
McLoughlin said she would like to thank Schoales for his service to the Select Board and the voters for their confidence.
Town Clerk Hilary Francis called the results "very preliminary" and "unofficial." She said votes for school board members still need to be mixed with those from other communities in the Windham Southeast School District.
Several candidates decided as a group to stop campaigning outside the American Legion when it started to rain. They talked inside while waiting for the results.
In the presidential primary, Bernie Sanders received 2,201 votes and Donald Trump won 283.
Reach staff writer Chris Mays at cmays@reformer.com, at @CMaysBR on Twitter and 802-254-2311, ext. 273.
