BY RYAN O’CONNOR
Though most Hopkinton residents voted to support an official ballot referendum form of government, or SB2, on the school district side, the vote failed to get a three-fifths majority, and was therefore rejected.
On Election Day, Tuesday, March 13, residents voted 807-803 in favor of SB2 on the school side and 900-714 against it on the town side.
Town
For the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen, Chairman Louise Carr lost re-election with 542 votes to Tom Congoran, 918 votes, and Scott W. Flood, 791 votes for the other open seat.The seat was vacated by Clarke Kidder, who decided not to run for another term. Joanie McIntire trailed with 780 votes.
“What I'm looking forward to doing is learning a lot. I come from the world of business. So this is new to me,” said Congoran. “I’m very pleased to have an opportunity to help out the town. I think it’s going to be a lot of work, but Hopkinton is a great town,” said Flood. “I think I can bring a more businesslike approach to managing the town – cost-control techniques and management devices – to help move the town forward.”
“I have a lot of experience working with large numbers of people. The town seems to want to change, and that's good.”
George W. Chase, 964 votes, and Holly Gagne, 973 votes, beat Beth Taylor, 635 votes, for two three-year library trustee seats.
On the budget committee, Chairman Karen Irwin, Daniel Coen and Patrice Gerseny all won three more years running unopposed.
Sue B. Strickford ran unopposed and won re-election as town clerk/tax collector, as did trustee of the trust funds, Chairman Richard Gourley for three years.
Sharon C. Baker assumed a one-year term as supervisor of the checklist and Patricia C. Smith won a three-year term as cemetery trustee.
School District
Arpiar Saunders decided not to run for a fifth consecutive term on the Hopkinton School Board, choosing instead to run for school treasurer.
Saunders lost his bid for a one-year term as district treasurer to incumbent Arnold Coda, by a 854-662 vote. Coda will begin his ninth term as treasurer.
“I can not only do the job as required by statute, but I will also continue to make recommendations as I see necessary,” said Coda.
Taking Saunders’ vacated seat on the school board was David Luneau, who beat Peter B. Yunich and Marion L. Paxton, 843-389-291, respectively.
“I think we’re looking for a way to continue to improve the quality of education in Hopkinton while also being mindful of the tax burden on taxpayers, and just finding cost-efficient ways to meet the educational goals of the community,” said Luneau. “I’ll be looking to work more closely with members of the community to bring in the best ideas to meet these goals.”
Charles Dibble, who ran unopposed, won another year as school district moderator, as did Sue Batchelder for a one-year seat as school district clerk.