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Provincetown selectman Elaine Anderson |
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Couture, Anderson prevail
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN – Voters returned incumbent Michele Couture to the board of selectmen while decisively adding candidate Elaine Anderson in Tuesday’s election.
However, two of the six Proposition 2 1/2 override ballot questions were so close that Town Manager Sharon Lynn said she is going to ask for a recount. Question 2, which asked voters whether they wanted to spend $63,594 each year to fund the assistant recreation director and 1.5 summer police officers, lost by a 10-vote margin – 549 yes to 559 no. The margin on Question 3, whether to increase the tax levy by $106,340 to fund up to a three-percent raise for town employees, lost by only one vote – 556 yes to 557 no.
“They’re too close not to recount,” Lynn said.
Ballot Question 1, which called for increasing the tax levy by $153,000 to pay for continued curbside trash collection, passed by a 753 to 320 margin. Questions 4 and 5, which each called for spending $50,000 to fund sidewalk repair and drain maintenance, both passed decisively.
However, Question 6, to spend $78,000 to fund the annual July 4th fireworks, failed by a 473-648 margin.
“I think there will be a lot of disappointed people coming to Provincetown [this July 4],” Lynn said. “But the voters were heard.”
Couture said there is still $14,000 in the fireworks gift fund. Private donations plus an effort to reduce some of the costs may still result in the town having the holiday fireworks, she said.
In other races, Peter Grosso ran unopposed for a three-year term on the school committee, Paul Benatti and Edward “Mick” Rudd were both returned to the board of library trustees, Cathy Reno Brouillet won an unopposed five-year term on the housing authority, and David McGlothlin won an unopposed three-year term on the charter enforcement committee.
Two write-in candidates won, as well: Molly Perdue for a one-year term on the housing authority, and Tom Boland for a one-year term on the board of library trustees.
In the selectman race, the vote counts were as follows: 612 for Couture, 530 for Anderson, 459 for George Bryant, 51 for David Cleveland and 394 for Bryan Green. Green was happy with his showing and said he intends to continue campaigning for the open selectman slot in the June 3 election being held to replace Pam Parmakian, who resigned in March.
“I have a second chance there and there’s another election next year,” Green said. “I have no intention of backing down now.”
Couture attributed her win to voters believing that she “was a woman of my word.” She had faced heavy opposition from the Provincetown Association of Concerned Citizens, with the PACC Internet blog posting numerous negative unsigned comments against her candidacy.
“It is the positive winning over the negative. People decided all the past negativity counted for nothing. They wanted positive attitudes on the board,” Couture said.
Anderson was clearly moved by her victory. She ran for selectman last year and lost.
“I’m pretty excited, very happy,” she said. “The town has confidence in me and gave me a chance. I’m going to work hard and hope I don’t disappoint anybody.”
psowers@provincetownbanner.com
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May 8th, 2008