Drabiuk voted in as new member of Huntington Board of Selectmen

HUNTINGTON — At the May 9 annual town election, a total of 203 votes were cast for 13 positions and one ballot question.

The only contested election was for a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen, in which newcomer Robert Drabiuk defeated two-term selectman William Hathaway III by a vote of 113 to 85.

Write-in candidates elected include Elizabeth Canedy for a three-year term on the Gateway Regional School Committee with 24 write-in votes, Jose Acevedo-Rivera for a three-year term as Constable with 40 votes, and Sara Thrasher, who received 20 votes for a three-year term on the Whiting Street fund and seven votes for a two-year term. All write-in candidates must accept their election by communicating with the Town Clerk.

All terms begin on July 1.

Unopposed candidates on the ballot who were elected include Jean Jackman for Board of Health with 163 votes, George Peterson III as moderator with 177 votes, Lorraine Wickland for Board of Assessors with 174 votes, Karon Hathaway for Water and Sewer commissioner with 141 votes, Keith Plant, constable 1-year, with 152 votes, Linda Siska for library trustee with 174 votes, Judith Guyette for Alphonso Pettis Fund with 172 votes and Henry Sarafin as tree warden with 177 votes.

A ballot question asking whether Huntington be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2 the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to purchase and equip a new fire engine, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto, passed on a vote of 104 yes votes, 94 no votes and four blanks. The question must also be approved at the Annual Town Meeting, which will be held on Monday, June 1, at 7 p.m. in Stanton Hall, 26 Russell Road. The meeting will also be preceded by a Special Town Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Warrants for the Annual Town Meeting were unavailable by press time, but they will be posted seven days in advance at Town Hall and other public locations. For more information, email Michelle Fieldstad-Booth, town clerk, at townclerk@huntingtonma.us.