Weston Town Election voting closed at 6 pm tonight, and after all ballots were counted, Chris Houston squeaked out a third term mandate from Weston voters. The margin was close at 644 to 581 (84 blanks) with the incumbent ultimately prevailing over challenger Keith Johnson.

Voter turnout was lower than last year, in spite of pandemic restrictions being lightened and/or lifted. In last year’s September election (delayed due to the pandemic) 2,359 Weston voters went to the polls (mail, early or in-person) while this year, 1,300 voters braved the garlic mustard forest in front of Town Hall by voting by mail or in-person (there was no early in-person voting this year).

For School Committee, Attia Linnard and Ken Newburg were elected as new members., in a tough three-way race for the two positions. Later this month, the open position (vacated mid-term by Rachel Stewart) will be decided and filled by a joint meeting of the School Committee and Select Board.

In the other contested positions, Melissa Crocker and Marcy Dorna won re-election to the Recreation Commission. Board of Health’s one open position will be occupied by Jennifer Kickham, the winner of a tight race with three exceptionally qualified candidates.

Uncontested roles were Moderator where Ripley Hastings will reprise the role he won in 2020, Commissioner of Trust Funds Sanford Whitehouse is in for another term, and Board of Assessors candidates Gary Koger and Phyllis Kominz were both elected. Lori Hess will be joining Planning Board for a five-year term, after being Chair of Tree Advisory Group for the last two years.

Incumbent Susan Scott and newcomer Christopher Welles were elected to the Board of Library Trustees.

Measurers of Lumber for the next year will be Matthew Gooch, Mary Shaw and Mark Whitworth. I hope they have time for their day jobs.

Ballot question #1 (also known as the only one) about Debt Exclusion passed by a comfortable margin.