Political newcomer Michael Wolff beat Holland for one of two seats on the board 665 to 660.
Christopher J. HoffmannAMHERST - Patricia G. Holland who lost her bid for reelection to the Jones Library Board of Trustees by five votes said she will not seek re-election
Holland, who has been the board president, said she will not apply for the vacancy that will be filled Monday night by a joint vote of the trustees and Select Board.
Holland said she was surprised by the outcome. “I should have done more campaigning,” she said.
Political newcomer Michael Wolff beat Holland for one of two seats 665 to 660. Incumbent Christopher J. Hoffmann easily won reelection for the second seat with 832 votes. In the only other contested race at Monday’s annual town election, Amherst Redevelopment Authority incumbent Aaron A. Hayden beat a challenge from Vincent J. O’Connor 880 to 504.
Holland said with such a low voter turnout she didn’t expect to pick up the additional five votes.
Only 1,477 voted or 8.47 percent of the town’s 17,433 registered voters said Amherst Town Clerk Sandra J. Burgess.
Holland said she thinks the controversy surrounding the evaluation of former library director Bonnie J. Isman effected the outcome as well. Some in town were critical of the process. An evaluation sub-committee met dozens of times over several months. The evaluation of Isman who retired in December was never made public. Isman had worked I the library for decades.
Holland said she’s disappointed she won’t be able to see some projects through but has known Wolff for decades. “I think he’ll do fine.”
Meanwhile, the trustees and The Select Board plan meet at 6 p.m. in Town Hall to elect a replacement of Kathleen Wang who resigned from the board in January, too late for her seat to be placed on the ballot. Holland said she there have some good candidates who applied for the position.