In an election that took shape as town policy in Marion took center stage, Selectman John Henry easily won re-election, while Sherman Briggs was bounced from the Planning Board.
With 495 votes, the plain spoken and razor-sharp Henry cruised to victory over challengers Dale Jones (185) and Planning Board member Ted North (149), just days after a Town Meeting that saw the incumbent carrying the flag for the Board of Selectmen on contentious article upon contentious article.
Two of those articles comprised the Solar Bylaws, and they met divergent fates: Article 30 (which sought to formalize the residential solar installation process) failed, and Article 31 (mandating a Municipal Solar Overlay District and allowing for a community solar garden) carried.
Similarly, the Planning Board’s candidates’ fortunes split Friday night: Incumbent Briggs (364 votes), who was against the Solar Bylaws, lost his spot, while Solar Bylaws opponent Tom Magauran did not seek re-election. But Jerry Ferrari (447 votes), a Marion resident who voted against both articles, earned a seat, as did Energy Management Committee member Norm Hills (430 votes), a dogged Solar Bylaws advocate.
Briggs was recently cited in an ethics violation as a Conservation Commission member for a conflict of interest in dealings with Tabor Academy.
Elsewhere on the ballot, Bradford Eames was re-elected to the Board of Assessors unopposed; David Titus, who clashed with North and Magauran during Town Meeting earlier this week, was re-elected as Moderator unopposed; incumbent Albin Johnson beat back challenger Kerry Reynolds to retain his Board of Health seat; Christine Marcolini won re-election to the Marion School Committee with no opposition; and incumbents Randy Parker and John Rockwell were re-elected unopposed to the Open Space Acquisition Commission.
In the other Election Night race of note, Linda Harju outlasted Michelle Ouellette to earn the Old Rochester Regional School Committee’s open seat.
By Shawn Badgley
