GRANBY — The four-way contested race for Selectboard was decided through the town election on May 20 and voters elected David Labonte to fill the seat being left open by Richard Beaulieu.
This year’s town election saw a 17% turnout, or 874 of the town’s 5,070 registered voters. This was a spike from last year, which saw 233 voters, a 4.7% turnout.
Labonte is a 17-year Granby resident who spoke about his love for the community during the Lions Club-sponsored candidate’s night event on May 1. He said then that he has heard frustration and sees the challenges facing the town, leading to his decision to run.
Labonte has over 35 years’ experience in construction and said with his background and vast understanding of building and building codes, it can only help the Selectboard, specifically with the decisions to be made on the approved West Street School Building project that will be converted into town offices.
“I promise to listen to all sides of a situation before making any decisions,” Labonte said during candidate’s night. “I will do what is best for taxpayers of Granby and long-term decisions. I will never go along with a crowd unless it is warranted. I will do my research.”
Labonte received 307 votes and was followed by Micheline Turgeon with 271 votes, John Arcouette with 191 votes and Nathaniel Masse with 84 votes.
Speaking more on his platform during candidate’s night Labonte said the town needed a grant writer and could have more transparency, two things he would prioritize in the role. He added he would be committed to the town’s schools, as a strong school system leads to improved property values and new families in the community.
The only other tightly contested race was for a four-year term on the Housing Authority, where Douglas Smith was elected over Ronald Richard in a 292-269 vote. Write-in candidate Dakota Richards received 141 votes.
The race for five-year term on the Housing Authority resulted in incumbent Joseph Furnia receiving 638 votes and his lone opponent was write in candidate Dakota Richards who received 39 votes. School Committee member Jennifer Bartosz was reelected to another three-year term, as well as member Jill Pelletier who was the lone write-in candidate.
The uncontested races of this year’s election all had incumbents elected to new terms. Assessor Dakota Richards, Board of Health member Lee Lalonde, Town Moderator Lynn Snopek Mercier, Town Collector Nicole Menard, Treasurer Steven Nally, Burial Commissioner Gordon Landry and Planning Board member Jim Trompke were all re-elected in uncontested races.
Library trustee incumbent Denise Conti was reelected and will be joined by write in winners Bernadette Archambault and Jennifer Chauvin.
Night two of Town Meeting will take place on Monday, June 10.
