BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Dunbarton residents turned out on Election Day to overwhelmingly oppose change.

On Tuesday, March 13, the town re-elected Selectman Mert Mann and voted down SB2 for the second straight year.

The town declined to transition to official ballot referendum, or SB2 419-154 votes, while the school district opposed it, 415-152 votes.

Town

In Dunbarton, the only contested position was on the board of selectmen. There, Mann will serve another three years after defeating challenger David Pellenz.

“I’m glad that I won because i think it’s a validation that I’m helping the town, and people recognize that,” said Mann. “I appreciate those who came out and voted for me and I also appreciate those who didn’t because I’m representing them, as well.”

Several incumbents also ran unopposed. Martha Rae won another three-year seat as tax collector, Bryan H. Clark was re-elected for three more years on the board of assessors, Brigitte Cook won another three-year term on the ethics committee, Tiffany Dodd retained her seat for another three years as library trustee and Richard Schaeffer was again elected for three years as cemetery trustee.

Kirstin Petretta won another one-year term as library trustee after being appointed last year to a vacated slot, and Jan VandeBogart won an unopposed two-year term as a trustee of the trust funds.

School District

Carl Metzger won unopposed election to the school board to take over for Brian Little, who decided not to run again. Incumbent Rene Ouellet also won three more years.