CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Voters passed by simple majority a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion by a vote of 196-157. 

 

They also returned a former Select Board member and ousted an incumbent in an election that once again filled the board with three members. 

 

Danielle Luchi won the three-year term on the ballot, defeating Karin Robert, who won seat last year to complete the end of a term. Luchi polled 236 to Robert's 143.

 

Jeffrey Levanos, who has held the chairmanships of both the Select Board and the School Committee, was elected on a write-in vote to complete a three-year term. 

 

Levanos had said he was done last year when declining to run for office again. But the failure of a candidate to run for term prompted he to return.

 

"They can't run with two selectmen," he said on Tuesday afternoon, as he offered stickers with his name to voters driving in to the Senior Center. 

 

He, Luchi and Robert were standing in the rain waving to supporters as a steady stream of vehicles made their way down the driveway. 

 

Town Clerk Carol Jammalo said total turnout was 394 out of 1,123 registered voters, or 35 percent. The two races on the ballot — and especially the debt exclusion question — appeared to have driven up turnout. Last year, barely 10 percent of voters came to the polls. 

 

Eric Denette, a behavior analyst and special education teacher, won the three-year term on the School Committee over David Robert, who still picked up a five-year unopposed seat on the Planning Board. 

 

Also re-elected, although it's not clear he will accept, was Bryan Tanner as moderator. Tanner has held the post for years and indicated this year he was not interested in continuing. However, he hasn't had any challenger in years and would sometimes not bother taking out nomination papers — voters would just write his name in.

 

Luchi said she felt confident coming into her first election. 

 

"I knew that I had great support from our community and our schools to back me up," she said Tuesday night. "I knew that they would come out to vote."

 

Luchi described the contest as a "good race" and noted she and Robert had worked together at the North Adams Regional Hospital for more than a dozen years. She also been a delegate for SEIU1199.

 

"I'm in it for our students, for our town employees. I'm here for them," she said. "My platform is let's take care of what we have ... and let's make the right decisions for this town. ... 

 

"Not quick fixes, long-term goals."

 

Luchi and Levanos will join Ronald Boucher, elected last year, on the board. Over the last several years, the board has found itself short as members have left prior to their terms ending. Luchi said she would finish what she started. 

 

While the debt exclusion passed by 39 votes, it may have a more difficult approval on Wednesday, depending on turnout. Borrowing the $1 million to fund a capital plan over five years will require a two-thirds vote. Town meeting begins at 6:30 at Clarksburg School. 

 

Also winning office unopposed on Tuesday as Tree Warden Ernie Dix, Town Clerk Carol Jammalo, Board of Health member Michael Rivers, McCann School Committee member Richard Bernardi, Library Trustee Patricia Denault, and War Memorial Trustee Edward Denault.