It's thumbs up for Rawson, thumbs down on waterparks, town operating budget

From left, Virginia Long of Casey Road Protection Committee, Amy Darling, with sign for school board candidate Emily Meehan and write-in school board hopeful Alfred Goodwin outside Milton Assembly of God Church on Tuesday. (Rochester Voice photos)

MILTON - Andrew Rawson is back on Milton's Board of Selectmen.

Rawson edged out four opponents, including Larry Brown, a longtime fixture at selectmen's meetings and on various town boards, who came in second.

Rawson finished with 311 votes, followed by Brown with 250, Billy Walden with 223, Adam G. Sturtevant with 104 and James M. Beaulieu with 72.

Andy Rawson

The race featured no incumbent as former fire chief Andy Lucier, who won a one-year spot on the board last year, decided not to run again.

In the only other contested race of the day, Nick Marique easily held onto his spot as fire chief over challenger Stephen D. Duchesneau, 630-396.

In what was likely the most controversial referendum of Election Day, Article #3, which would have allowed amusement and/or water parks in residential areas of town, was soundly defeated, 609-382.

And while last year's voting approved all money requests, this year's was less giving, rejecting most significantly the town's $4.7 million operating budget by a whopping 614-382. The town will now have to tighten its purse string a bit and rely on the default budget of $4.6 million.

Other money requests that were denied included a $50,000 capital reserve fund request for municipal buildings, which was shot down by just three votes, 500-497; and a citizen's petition request for $15,000 to help with the revitalization and renovation of the boat ramp at Town Beach (546-421).