MINOT – Lisa Sabatine-Bridgham waited patiently in the Minot Town Office lobby Friday night for results of the annual election, just as she did last year.

This year, however, the news was different. Instead of losing a close election, Sabatine-Bridgham regained her seat on the town’s School Committee. She garnered 85 votes in the town’s only contested elected position against Lisa Cesare’s 79 votes.

She was one of two women elected to the committee Friday.

“I never not wanted to be on the School Committee,” said Sabatine-Bridgham, who will serve a three-year term after being sworn in at the annual town meeting today. “I’ve still got three kids in the school, and I like being involved.”

Sabatine-Bridgham had served three previous terms on the School Committee but was ousted last year by Michael Callahan. When a conflict-of-interest issue arose because of Callahan’s wife being employed by Minot Consolidated School, Callahan resigned. His seat was then filled by Karen M. Whalen, who ran unopposed this year.

After serving the first year of the term as an appointed member, Whalen had to run for election this year for the remaining two years of the term. She received 141 votes out of the 175 ballots counted Friday night.

Two other uncontested seats appeared on Minot’s ballot this year. Longtime incumbent Eda Tripp received 140 votes to serve another three years on the Board of Selectmen. Daniel Callahan Jr. received 135 votes for a one-year term on the board.

This year’s election drew a low voter turnout, with about 10 percent of Minot’s 1,758 registered voters casting ballots. The town received 45 absentee ballots before Friday’s polls opened at 4 p.m. By the time polls closed at 8 p.m., only 175 more ballots had been cast.

Last year’s election included two controversial referendums, which brought out 780 voters plus 83 absentee ballots out of 1,640 registered voters.

All newly elected officials will be sworn in at today’s town meeting, which starts at 9 a.m. at the Minot Consolidated School.

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