Tom Theodore, Mike Loughran win Select Board seats

Campaign volunteers hold signs for their candidates. (Mike Tureski photo)

O’Halloran tops School Committee race

For the first time in three years, there was little uncertainty after the close of polls on election night as both contested races featured decisive winners.

In the four-way Select Board race, Tom Theodore bounced back from last year’s recount defeat to top the ticket, leading all vote-getters with 1,732 votes. Incumbent Michael Loughran was also reelected, edging his former School Committee colleague Reuki Schutt by a margin of 1,407 to 1,134 with first-time candidate Hamilton Rodrigues picking up 297 votes to place a distant fourth.

In the other contested race on the ballot, Kendall O’Halloran defeated fellow CAPT leader Karrie Hylen to secure a three-year term on the School Committee. O’Halloran, who ran as a write-in candidate last year, carried five of six precincts and received 1,301 votes to Hylen’s 1,044.

In stark contrast to the last two town elections, which both culminated in recounts, Tuesday’s affair was mostly devoid of drama, with results announced before 10:30 p.m. and victory margins in the hundreds as opposed to the single digits.

Loughran, whose last election night ended with him clinging to a one-vote lead over Lisa Lopez, was surely relieved to have a clearer answer this time, although the campaign itself was not without its challenges, he said.

“Due to the restrictions with COVID, we weren’t able to have the campaign gatherings that we would have liked and it was a challenge getting your message out to potential voters,” said Loughran. “I want to thank all of my supporters who held signs, made donations, and called on their neighbors to get out and vote. I am grateful to get re-elected and I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Canton.”

For Theodore, Tuesday’s triumph was a vindication of sorts, after he fell just short in his reelection bid to Lopez in June 2020. Recognizing that he may have taken that year’s race for granted after his somewhat comfortable win in 2017, Theodore said his narrow defeat served as a “wake-up call” for both his campaign and his supporters.

This year, Theodore said he tried to hammer home the message that “every vote counts,” and the voters seemed to respond. All told, Theodore was chosen on more than 63 percent of ballots cast, and he comfortably carried all six precincts.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am,” he said on the morning after the election. “I can’t wait to get back to work. I am thrilled, absolutely thrilled.”

While he has thoroughly enjoyed his time on the Finance Committee this past year, Theodore said he greatly missed serving on the Select Board and feels he can be even more productive with a full term already under his belt.

“Now I know what direction to go in,” he said, “and it’s almost like I can hit the ground running. I’m more familiar with navigating the waters.”

Also eager to get to work is O’Halloran, who will jump right in to her first term on the School Committee starting with tonight’s virtual meeting.

“Thank you for your votes of confidence, Canton!” O’Halloran relayed in a statement sent to the Citizen. “I am honored that you have granted me the opportunity to serve on the School Committee. I am ready and excited to get to work for all Canton Public School families at all grade levels. Thank you, also, to my very kind and knowledgeable competitor, Karrie Hylen, who made this a tough race.”

Joining O’Halloran as newly elected town officials are Joe Amrhein and Jan Chamberlain, who ran unopposed for Planning Board (5 years) and Library Board of Trustees (3 years), respectively.

Several incumbents also ran unopposed and were reelected on Tuesday, including Tracy Kenney for town clerk, Rocco Digirolamo for Board of Assessors, Alan Rapoport for Board of Health, and Joan Schottenfeld and Christine Untersee for library trustee.

A full listing of the April 6 town election results can be found on the town website.

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