BELCHERTOWN — Three years after losing a seat on the Select Board, Ronald E. Aponte, a six-term incumbent, is returning to the panel.
At Monday’s town election, Aponte, of Azalea Way, received 756 votes to top three candidates vying for two seats. Incumbents Gail Gramarassa, who defeated Aponte in 2018, and Nicholas O’Connor both opting against pursuing reelection.
Nicholas Pucel of Brandywine Drive secured the second Select Board seat, with 658 votes, outpacing former Select Board member George D. Archible, of Chauncey Walker Street, who got 539 votes.
In a candidate statement, Aponte wrote that he has served Belchertown for 26 years and wants to make it the best place for raising a family.
“I believe I am well qualified, fair, effective and will add a valuable ‘experienced’ perspective to the board,” Aponte wrote.
Pucel, a financial adviser, cited economic development and business growth, as ways to enhance the town’s tax base and support town and school services.
“I truly look forward to the chance to work for our community and to keep moving our town toward a bright future,” Pucel wrote in a statement.
The election also gives Belchertown a new town clerk, with Theresa A. Camerlin of Sherwood Drive winning a three-year term for the position after incumbent Colleen K. Toothill-Berte chose not to run for reelection.
Ruby Bansal of Atherton Lane, a School Committee incumbent, kept the seat with 642 votes and will be joined by newcomer, Amy B.W. Lamothe of North Washington Street, who finished second among four candidates with 551 votes. Jonathan W. Ritter of Granby Road and Sean M. Lavalley of Springfield Road trailed with 517 and 248 votes, respectively.
Incumbents won the other seats in uncontested elections, including Daniel R. Beaudette of Cold Spring Street for a five-year seat on the Planning Board, Donald L. Minney of Ludlow Street for a three-year position on the Board of Assessors, Colleen M. Duroshea of Bay Road for a three-year term on the Board of Health and Judith A. O’Kulsky of Everett Avenue for a five-year term on the Belchertown Housing Authority.
The 1,203 voters represented a 10.5% turnout of the town’s 11,511 registered voters.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
