MEXICO – First-time office seeker George Byam won a seat on the Board of Selectmen by a vote of 93-57 over James McDonald. Another 13 ballots cast were blank.
He will finish a three-year term begun by former Selectman Monique Aniel, who resigned last fall. Byam’s term goes until the June 2007 town meeting.
“I’m very pleased and thank everyone for voting,” he said after he was sworn in by Town Clerk Penny Duguay immediately after the polls closed. “I’ll find out what’s on the agenda and try to be informed.”
He will join Selectmen Arthur Bordeau, Reggie Arsenault, Barbara Laramee and Richard Philbrick on Wednesday, Feb. 23, for his first regular selectmen’s meeting.
He said he hopes to study the financial situation in town and will work with the Mexico Taxpayers’ Association.
“I hope they can come up with some solutions. No matter what, the town has been underfunded at town meetings and then financed by reducing the reserve accounts all in the name of not raising taxes,” he said.
Mexico reportedly has a deficit of about $300,000. The final audit by Fairfield auditor Keel Hood is expected to be submitted sometime this week.
McDonald, 44, served two years as a selectman from 1999 to 2001. He said he does not yet know whether he will run for one of the two open selectmen’s seats coming up at the regular municipal elections in June. Up for re-election are board Chairman Bordeau and Laramee.
“The voters have spoken,” McDonald said Monday night, adding that he will continue to be an active member of the Mexico Taxpayers’ Association.
Byam, 67, has lived in the River Valley for more than 40 years, including the last seven in Mexico. He is a retired businessman and serves as a deacon at the Mexico Congregational Church.
More voters cast ballots in Monday’s special election for selectman than during the last one held, in 1999, when McDonald won over two opponents to fill a term begun by former Selectman Brian Elliott. At that time, 114 votes were cast, said Duguay.
She believes the higher number of voters for a one-issue election was likely caused by the town’s financial situation. She estimated the cost to hold the election at about $200.
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