DERRY — Voters elected two newcomers to the Town Council and gave an incumbent councilor another three years on the job.
A total of 2,139 of Derry's approximately 21,000 registered voters cast ballots for town and school officials Tuesday.
Voters elected Joel Olbricht as the new councilor-at-large. David Milz edged the District 2 council title away from Tom Cardon by only one vote. Cardon has until Friday at 4 p.m. to request a recount.
Incumbent councilor Brian Chirichiello earned another term on the council, beating out District 4 challengers Joseph DiChiaro and Albert Dimmock.
"I look forward to another three years," Chirichiello said. "I am happy the people in District 4 had faith in me."
Three incumbent School Board members, Brenda Willis, Ken Linehan, and Kevin Gordon, all won new three-year terms on the board. All were unopposed.
Voters also approved the school district's $80.4 million budget for next year, 1,473-521. Voters had added $50,000 to the budget amount in January to prepare for possible legal action as the state's new educational funding formula looms closer. Derry could lose as much as $7 million when the new numbers take effect.
Voters also approved the collective bargaining agreement with the Derry Education Association.
Some said voter turnout was down this year, due to the school side of things, where there were no contested School Board races and a brief warrant had only a budget article and a teacher's contract proposal.
"It's a quiet year," poll volunteer Jim MacEachern said at midday on Tuesday.
As of 12:30 p.m., only 738 of Derry's registered voters had cast ballots.
Inside the lobby at Gilbert H. Hood Middle School, students were getting a lesson in civic responsibility. Students in all the district schools had a chance to go to the polls with their parents and cast ballots for fun things at their school. They voted on special activities like a movie night choice, theme day, year-end activities or a special lunch.
Parent volunteers Suzanne Howe and Elaine Hodnett joined with Grinnell teacher Marta Torres to staff the kids' voting area, complete with a ballot box and red, white and blue curtain covering the voting booth.
"They are excited," Hodnett said. "They know what they are voting for and are ready to cast their ballots."
She said it's an important civic lesson for students to have the chance to see voting in action and the outcome of a ballot.
In the only other contested town race, Judy Strakalaitis was elected supervisor of the checklist over incumbent Bruce Neale. Other officials elected Tuesday include Rita M. Correia, town treasurer; Denise E. Neale, town clerk; Michael Gill, Trustee of the Trust Funds; Margaret Ives, moderator; Joan Crimlisk and Elizabeth Ives, Derry Public Library trustees; and Benjamin Hamblett and Candace Andrews, Taylor Library trustees.
Moderator Margie Ives said Tuesday's voter turnout was disappointing and she urged more Derry voters to get involved and exercise their right to vote.
"We can do better, we should do better," Ives said. "Voter turnout in Derry, it's anemic."
