enlarge Jack Milton/Staff Photographer

Andrew McCown, 4, plays with a magnifying glass while waiting for his mother, Laura, to vote at Falmouth High School on Tuesday.

 

 

FALMOUTH — At age 71, Fred W. Chase exceeded his expections by getting the most votes in Tuesday's race for two seats on the Town Council.

Chase, who said during the campaign that he wanted to inspire others to seek public service, received 789 votes, according to Town Clerk Ellen Planer.

That total put him slightly ahead of Council Chairman William Armitage, who was re-elected with 783 votes.

Councilor Joseph Wroblesky was not returned to office. He finished third with 630 votes. Political newcomer Mark Soule was last with 341 votes.

On other issues, the town's voters approved the $24.9 million school budget proposal, which will take effect July 1. It calls for a decrease of $184,309 – 0.73 percent -- from the current school year.

The school budget will not raise or lower Falmouth's property tax rate.

Andrew Kinley and Rachel Reed were elected to the School Board.

They will fill seats occupied by members who are being term-limited out of office.

It has been 36 years since Chase served on the Town Council, but the lifelong resident said he hopes his candidacy will inspire others to seek public office.

Chase was named Falmouth's citizen of the year in 2000.

Armitage, who is finishing his first term on the council, has said the town has gone to great lengths to preserve open space, but it must also find a way to stimulate economic growth – especially at the shopping center where the former Shaw's supermarket space remains empty.

Wrobleski was instrumental in the passage of several initiatives, from bringing curbside recycling to Falmouth to guiding land-use planning in his post as chairman of the Community Development Committee.

Soule had never run for office before this year.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com