UPDATE: Nicole Doyon Lynch, Judy Mooney, Frances-Feliz Kearns win Select Board seats

MATTAPOISETT — Nicole Doyon Lynch, Judy Mooney and Frances-Feliz Kearns were elected Tuesday to join the newly-expanded Select Board, among six candidates in a hard-fought race.

About 30% of voters came out to the polls Tuesday, May 19 to settle contested races for Select Board, along with the Library Board of Trustees and the Board of Health.

Lynch clinched the longest term on the Select Board with over 1,000 votes, and Mooney came in a close second. Kearns rounds out the trio of new board members.

Lynch said she is “thrilled” with her win, which came after “endless conversations” with people in town and was the result of a lot of hard work. 

“We met tons of new people, we developed new friendships, we strengthened other friendships, and I learned an absolute ton,” she said. “I'm just honored, I'm absolutely honored, and thankful.”

She said she is excited to work with her fellow board members and represent not only her supporters but all town residents. 

Mooney said she was happy with her win, and she was pleased with turnout throughout the day.

“I think the results were wonderful for me,” she said. “This is better than expected.”

Her first step as a Select Board member, she said, will be to meet with department heads and get up to speed before her first meeting. 

Kearns said she is “excited” to join the Select Board, along with continuing her role on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee.

“I'm looking forward to starting the work, because I won for a school committee, and I also am on the Select Board, so now the hard work begins,” she said. 

In the short term, she said her priority is improving communications between the Select Board and residents and making accessing materials easier. 

Ned Kaiser, who received only five votes fewer than Kearns, said he was disappointed with his loss but was glad the race was so close.

“I wish it could have gone a different way, but losing by less than 10 votes means that it went, it went in a positive way, and I wish the rest the best,” he said. 

Kaiser said he hopes to run again next year. 

Eric Bearegard said he congratulates Lynch, Mooney and Kearns and believes they’ll do a great job leading the town.

“The outcome wasn't what I was hoping for, but I had some great support and formed some good friendships throughout the past couple months,” Beauregard said. “I think the town's in good hands.”

James Harlfinger said “the results are the results,” and he’ll take some time to evaluate before moving forward.

“The community has spoken, that's what it is,” he said.