MATTAPOISETT — Mattapoisett voters favored Betsy Stewart for the Old Rochester Regional School Committee and incumbent Michele Bernier for the Board of Health in the Tuesday, May 20 election.

The two ballot questions also passed, both of which asked for voters’ approval for Proposition 2½ debt exclusions. With both approved, voters have allowed the town to increase the property tax by more than 2.5% this year.

Stewart received 802 votes and couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Nina Datschkovsky-Ennis received 448 votes and noted, despite her loss, how proud she is that everything went smoothly. She said she was happy for Stewart and congratulated the people behind her campaign.

The town needs to support each other, she said, stating, “We have to keep moving on and we have to help each other as a town, and we have to support each other always.”

Michele Bernier was reelected to the Board of Health after receiving 742 votes against challenger Douglas Schneider, who received 442 votes.

Bernier said she is ready to get back to work, thankful she had the support of the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee and the group they put together.

“I have a meeting Thursday night, and the town has work to do,” she said. “I’m going to roll up my sleeves and do it.” 

Schneider couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

With 680 people voting “yes” on ballot question one, the average taxpayer will now pay an additional $30 each year until the Oakland Street reconstruction work, which includes upgrades to the drainage system, is complete.

The average taxpayer will now also have to pay an additional $52 each year until renovations to the Mattapoisett Highway building are complete after 681 voted “yes” to question two.

Renovations to the highway building will include repairs to the leaky roof, constructing new office spaces and creating additional garage space.

Based on unofficial results, 1,263 registered voters cast ballots this year, including resident Ken Dawicki.

Dawicki, who tries to vote every year, said he thinks the town is spending too much money and would like to see it more controlled.

“The staffing at the Town Hall is much larger than it was 10 years ago, and that’s being a problem on the budget,” he said.

Resident Cindy Dawicki came out to vote because she sees it as her civic duty.

“I read over all of the candidates and made my decision, so it’s time to vote,” she said.

Jordan Collyer, who ran uncontested for another term on the Select Board, sees voting as a “specific obligation.”

“It’s important to get out and vote for who you think can do the job, or who you believe has a firm understanding,” he said.

Collyer said he’s noticed “a fair amount of energy” this year in the contested races and said he was hoping for a good turnout, noting that the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is “extremely important” to the town.