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Write-ins | Complete, unofficial returns, including Town meeting (.PDF)

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Political newcomer Cindy Stark and six-year member Jeff Thielman, who waged separate campaigns, won seats on the School Committee in the only contested race in the 2009 town election on April 4. All four liquor questions passed.

According to unofficial returns read for cable TV at Town Hall, Starks topped the race for School Committee, with 3,454 votes. Thielman followed with 3,008. Joseph Tully, in his third committee run, received 2,528 votes.

Of Arlington's 29,598 registered voters, 5,473 cast ballots April 4, or a turnout of about 18.5 percent, a relatively low figure.

The votes for the alcohol questions were as follows:

No. 1: Shall the Board of Selectmen be authorized to grant an additional 5 licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises in restaurants and function rooms having a seating capacity of not less than 50 persons?

3,939 yes, 1,286 no.

No. 2: Do you favor allowing the service of alcoholic beverages without food in licensed restaurants?    

2,686 yes; 2,494 no.

No. 3: Do you favor increasing the number of stores in Arlington licensed to sell wine and malt beverages for consumption off-premises from three to five?

2,594 yes; 2,556 no.

No. 4: Do you favor allowing stores in Arlington currently licensed to sell wine and malt beverages for consumption off-premises to sell all alcoholic beverages for consumption off-premises?

2,938 yes, 2,200 no.

As to the School Committee race, Starks issued a statment saying "Thank You Arlington!

"Before anything else, I want to thank everyone who made my election to School Committee possible. Thank you to my family for putting up with the campaign and supporting me the whole way.

"Thank you to the most amazing campaign team ever: Marie, Sharon, Judi, Mary, Nora, Brian, Judy, Josh, Lisa, Annie, Christine, Kathryn, Carol and Mary. Thank you to everyone who held coffees or signs, to those who sent dear friend cards or emails and to everyone who contributed so generously to my campaign.

"Thank you to everyone who gave me advice (whether I followed it or not) or spoke to me about issues, concerns, ideas, and Arlington. And thank you to everyone who cast a vote for me. Your support is overwhelming and humbling.

"I am excited to begin and I hope you are as well, as this has to be a community effort. I may be the one elected, but I will rely on you to keep talking to me and to continue the many conversations that began during this campaign.

"We need to keep the lines of communication open if we are to work together for our schools and the students who attend them. There is a mountain of work ahead of us, but I believe that if we pull together, we can meet each challenge head on and find solutions to the problems that confront us.

"I am honored to become the newest member of the school committee and I look forward to using my energy, problem solving skills, and commitment to education to further strengthen the work of this committee."

{mosimage}Thielman told the audience watching on Arlington cable: "I congratulate Joe and Cindy and everyone on their teams for a good campaign."

"I'm honored to be serving on the School Committee with Cindy Starks. The voters I spoke with told me that want to see the School Committee make tangible, concrete and meaningful contributions to our school system. That's the message I plan to take back to the School Committee when we reconvene on April 14.

"I'm grateful to my entire campaign team. We had a very dedicated group of volunteers who made lots of phone calls, sent out dear friend cards, and spoke to neighbors about my candidacy."

None of the other races for key town positions was contested.

Incumbent Selectmen Jack Hurd and Clarissa Rowe won reelection. Hurd recieved 4,024 votes, amd Rowe got 3,418.

Kevin Feeley received 3,758 votes for a nseat on the Board of Assessor.

Brian Greeley got 3,678 for a seat on the Arlington Housing Authority.

Unofficial vote totals included absentees but not write-ins. They are typically added in the week after the election. 

School Committee results

The scene at the home of Steven and Allison Peterson was jubilant as Thielman supporters watched while Paul Schlichtman recorded the votes from each precinct, as they were called in.

"Looks like Cindy has it," Jeff said about 8:20 p.m. Shortly thereafter, it was clear that incumbent was the runner-up and had gained a third term.

At that point, Thielman called Starks. "Thank God, you won, Cindy," he said. "We avoided hell tonight." Many of those present laughed and cheered.

Later, when he was thanking supporters and giving gifts to key campaign aides, Sue Sheffler interrupted him. Retiring from the committee after six years,

Sheffler said, "I want to tell you from the inside. I worked with Jeff for six years. He has the highest morals. I'm thrilled to leave the School Committee in Jeff and Cindy's hands -- and I'm thrilled to leave the committee."

In response to this report, Tully wrote to the Arlington e-mail list Monday, April 6, that Thielman came to his home the day after the election and apologized for the comment. Tully wrote that he had accepted his apology.

Thielman confirmed he and Tully had met.

Ballot Questions

This year, the ballot for town elections will have four questions for voters to answer.  The questions will appear on the ballot like this: