Two-term Hadley School Committee incumbent Tracy Kelly finished third with 499 votes and challenger Terry C. Earle with 440.
Molly A. KeeganHADLEY – The Hadley School Committee has one new member and one returning member following Tuesday’s annual Town Election.
Molly A. Keegan, who ran unsuccessfully last year against long-time member Thomas M. Waskiewicz, was the top voter getter in the with 727 votes. Incumbent Linda Dunlavy finished second with 642 votes.
Two-term incumbent Tracy Kelly finished third with 499 votes and challenger Terry C. Earle with 440.
Longtime Moderator Kirk B. Whatley beat a challenge from newcomer Joshua D. Tudryn, winning 710 to 470.
Incumbent Select Board member Daniel J. Dudkiewicz was the only candidate on the ballot for that lone seat receiving 906 votes. Former selectman John S. Mieczkowski Sr., who ran as a write-in candidate, received 112 votes, Hadley Town Clerk Jessica V. Spanknebel said.
Mieczkowski said he decided to run because he was dissatisfied with discussions surrounding the Department of Public Works budget.
While Goodwin Memorial Library Board of Trustee Noel Kurtz was the lone candidate running for two seats on the board, Claire Carlson won the second seat on a write-in.
About 34 percent of the town’s voters cast ballots.
Keegan said she decided to run again because “I didn’t see any substantive change take place” after last year’s election." She also said she did not see the committee be “as effective as it needed to be.”
She said both she and Dunlavy campaigned on making the committee more welcoming and they hope to institute a public comment period to the School Committee agenda.
She also said that voters were concerned about fiscal responsibility, which "doesn’t mean cuts as much as “spending dollars wisely.”
Keegan, long-time Finance Committee member, meanwhile, said she resigned that position Wednesday with the first School Committee meeting Wednesday night.