Shelby Bronnes was among many write-in candidates who won a seat in Monday’s Athol and Royalston town elections.
Bronnes bested Ryan Hood—whose name appeared on the ballot—by a vote of 138-122 for a seat on the Royalston Selectboard. The 28-year-old new homeowner was urged to run by several people, but made the decision after the deadline for filing nomination papers had passed. Hood returned his papers prior to deadline and soon yard signs in support of his candidacy began showing up around town.
Bronnes will fill the seat vacated by Chris Long, who chose not to seek reelection after 12 years on the board.
Asked if she was surprised by the results, Bronnes replied with a chuckle, “Yes, actually I was. I had heard a couple of stories of people trying to get voted in as a write-in and only one was successful in the last few years. So, yes, I was pleasantly surprised, and I want to thank everyone who voted.”
Bronnes attributed the win to voter outreach and the support around town. He credited people with good reputations who offered their support, speaking on her behalf to help.
“I was at the transfer station passing out stickers and cards, and there were several people who were willing to take extras and go speak, for example, at the senior luncheon that happens on Wednesday, and at the yoga class at the Town Hall,” said Bronnes.
Bronnes said Hood was very gracious in defeat, reaching out to congratulate her after the results came in.
“He wished me the best of luck over the next three years, and I really appreciated that,” she said. It takes maturity to accept a loss.”
Bronnes said Hood’s choice to run shows that he loves the town and hopes he doesn’t lose that desire.
“Someone who loves the town that much, we need to keep him around,” she said.
Another write-in candidate, Kiley Hall, captured Royalston’s open seat on the Athol Royalston Regional School Committee, collecting 96 votes in Royalston and 53 in Athol for a district-wide total of 149. She will succeed Nancy Melbourne, who opted not to run for re-election.
In the only contested race on the Athol ballot, Eric Jack and Emily White bested Charles Larkin and Frank Vesco II for two Athol seats on the committee. Jack topped the field, garnering 203 votes in Athol and 156 in Royalston, for a total of 359. White was not far behind, winning 208 and 143 votes in Athol and Royalston, respectively, for a total of 351. Vesco received a total of 79 votes from the two towns and Larkin got 67.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their support,” said White. “I’m very excited to start. Being on a committee this size is new to me, but I’m excited to jump into it and bring everything I can offer to the committee.”
Jack echoed White’s sentiments, saying, “I’d like to thank the voters for supporting me. I’m really excited to get to work with the committee and the superintendent and help work toward the goals the goals they’ve been working on and assist in the progress they’ve been making. I want to help by being part of the team.”
Despite the departure of now-former Selectboard Chair Alan Dodge for Florida, it looks like there will still be a Dodge serving on the panel. While no one returned nomination papers in time to get placed on the ballot for one of two open seats, Brian Dodge, Alan’s brother, received 30 write-in votes to serve on the board. He was one of 13 people to get write-in votes.
Incumbent Rebecca Bialecki, whose name was on the ballot for the other available seat, received 226 votes.
Those candidates running unopposed in Athol included Lawrence McLaughlin for Town Moderator, Library Trustees J. R. Greene and Carol Batchelder, and Constable Randy Mitchell.
Royalston candidates elected without opposition were Philip Leger for the Board of Health, Library Trustee Theresa Quinn, Tom Musco for the Planning Board and Trustees of the J.N. Bartlett Fund Nancy Melboure and Gary Winitzer.
With no official candidate for a term on the town’s Cemetery Commission, Roland Hamel won with six write-in votes. James Richardson collected 30 write-in votes for assessor, which also lacked an official candidate.
Athol’s voter turnout was 3.5%, while voter turnout in Royalston was 25%. In what might be considered a surprise, nearly as many registered voters showed up to cast ballots in Royalston as those in Athol, despite Royalston having just about 1/10 the population of its neighbor. In all, 273 people voted in Royaslton, just 12 fewer than the 284 who showed up at Athol Town Hall.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.