Updated at 10:10 a.m.: This story has been updated to reflect the most recent results released by the town clerk’s office, including the tally of the write-in votes for Board of Assessors.
Newcomer Daniel Fox topped the ticket in a race for Select Board in an annual town election with higher stakes than usual June 11.
With the town instituting staggered terms for the Select Board this year, the top two vote-getters stood to gain full three-year terms, with the next two highest vote-getters earning two-year terms and the fifth-place finisher a one-year term.
In unofficial vote totals, Fox secured 2,455 votes across Marblehead’s six precincts to claim one of the three-year terms with relative ease.
Incumbent Moses Grader will join Fox in serving a three-year term, having received 1,991 votes. Incumbents Erin Noonan and Alexa Singer earned two-year terms with 1,979 1,908 votes, respectively, while Bret Murray secured a one-year term with 1,863 votes.
Dan Albert fell short in his election bid, finishing sixth with 1,016 votes.
“I feel overwhelmed and humbled by the support,” Fox said of his victory. “And I am looking forward to getting to work.”
When asked what he thought his win says about the current state of Marblehead, Fox replied, “I think people are looking for some change and some fresh ideas and a new perspective. I think there’s been a lot of discourse, and hopefully we can all work together.”
Regarding his top priorities as a new Select Board member, Fox stated, “Clearly, we need to fix our structural deficit. We need to work on the MBTA, and I think we need to work with creating a better relationship with other boards,” specifically mentioning the importance of improving relations with the School Committee.
The race for the Recreation and Parks Commission saw incumbents Karin Ernst and Shelly Curran Bedrossian lead the way with 1,939 and 1,898 votes, respectively. Rossana Ferrante, Linda A. Rice Collins, and Matthew Martin will round out the board, having received 1876, 1,799 and 1,658 votes, respectively. Challenger Richard W. Jordan finished sixth with 1,418 votes.
Kristin duBay Horton secured the Marblehead Housing Authority seat vacated by longtime commissioner Pam Foye to serve a five-year term on the five-member commission.
Horton received 1,022 votes across the town’s six precincts, defeating Laura Gallant, who had previously announced her intention to cede the race. Gallant, whose name remained on the ballot, received 918 votes.
Horton, a political newcomer and public health advocate, emphasized her commitment to amplifying the voices of Housing Authority tenants during her campaign.
Precinct 1 saw the highest turnout in both races, with 3,535 ballots cast for each board.
Former School Committee member Jonathan Lederman defeated incumbent Doug Percy and fellow challenger Phillip Blaisdell to win a three-year term on the Marblehead Board of Assessors via a successful write-in campaign in Tuesday’s town election, according to unofficial results.
Lederman received 229 write-in votes across the town’s six precincts, outpacing Percy and Blaisdell, who also ran as write-in candidates. Blaisdell received a total of 106 write-in votes in his challenge.
Percy did not file nomination papers to appear on the ballot for reelection; he received 66 write-in votes.
Kris Olson and Lia Gorbach, the Current’s college intern, contributed reporting.
