Community Corner

Francis Defeats Kleeman to Earn Four More Years [Video]

Szewczyk and Levy win spots on the Board of Selectmen.

Republican Laura Francis earned a second term as Durham's first selectman by easily defeating Democratic challenger Roger Kleeman in Tuesday's election.

Francis received 1,653 votes to Kleeman's 557, according to unofficial results released by the Town Clerk's office.

"I feel great. I feel relieved and I feel grateful," Francis said. (see victory speech video)

Francis' running mate, John Szewczyk, earned another four-year term as selectman after receiving the second most votes — 1,447.

Steve Levy, the town's former fire chief and Kleeman's running mate, finished with 749 votes, enough to secure the minority selectman seat.

"I'm looking forward to another good team. I think he brings a lot to [the board]," Francis said about Levy, who will take the place of James McLaughlin, a former first selectman.

"Our board was very productive (with Jim), it was very cordial. I think we set a good tone how government should work. I am going to miss him," Francis said. "I'm grateful for his service."

Francis was hesitant to use her victory as a platform to announce new goals.

"The last time I set goals we had three natural disasters, we had a great economic downturn and we had to do a lot of reacting. Hopefully, in the next four years we'll have a little bit more time to set our own course rather than have it set for us," she said.

Despite the loss, Kleeman seemed equally ready to move forward.

"I'm relieved, it's done. I'll still be the people's advocate," he said.

According to the unofficial results, 2,229 residents voted in Tuesday's election, or just slightly less than 45 percent of registered voters. The total is a significant drop from the 2,699 votes cast in the 2007 election.

Republicans swept the ballots in the election of four members to the Planning and Zoning Commisssion.

Daniel Melnik may have been the biggest surprise. The 23-year-old engineer garnered 1,238 votes, which trailed only longtime commission member Richard Eriksen's 1,302 votes.

"I'm looking forward to joining the board. I'm excited," said Melnik, who relied heavily on Facebook to campaign for the seat.

He also has his mom to thank.

"She had a little bit of an influence on me. She's involved with the board [as recording secretary]," he said about his mother, Jan.

Durham Tax Collector Martin French, a Democrat, won a close race against Amy Greenbacker, 1,137 to 1,051.

Find out what's happening in Durham-Middlefieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here are the complete election results:

DURHAM ELECTION RESULTS
(D=Democrat; R=Republican)

(*=winner; MR=minority representation)

Find out what's happening in Durham-Middlefieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Results are unofficial.



FIRST SELECTMAN
*Laura Francis (R) 1,653 Roger Kleeman (D) 557

SELECTMAN
*John Szewczyk (R) 1,447 *Steve Levy (D) 749

TOWN CLERK
*Kim Garvis (R) 1,816

TOWN TREASURER
*Wendy Pedersen-Manemeit (R) 1,322 Craig Bradanini (D) 806

TAX COLLECTOR
*Martin French (D) 1,146 Amy Greenbacker (R) 1,052

BOARD OF FINANCE
*Rosemarie Naples (R) 1,573 Laurie Tuttle (R) 1,254 *Laurie Stevens (D) 1,012 (MR)

BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS (FULL-TERM) *Matthew Thompson (D) 1,163 Pasquale DiNatale (R) 922

BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS (2-YEAR TERM) *Katharine Forline (D) 1,399

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION *Richard Eriksen (R) 1,302 *Daniel Melnik (R) 1,238 *Frank DeFelice (R) 1,151 *Steven DeMartino (R) 1,117 David Foley (D) 1,072 James McLaughlin (D) 1,020 Eugene Riotte (D) 925

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION ALTERNATE *Bonnie Ryder (R) 1,614 *Norman Jason (R) 1,596

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
*David Heer (R) 1,350 *William LaFlamme (R) 1,348 *John Hogarth (D) 1,167 BJ Joyce (D) 929

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS (ALTERNATE) *Michael Geremia (R) 1,409 *Mark Jungels (D) 1,299


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