Four write-in candidates claim seats in Shelburne; new Selectboard member elected

RODNEY McBRIDE

RODNEY McBRIDE

Shelburne residents vote at Cowell Gymnasium  on Tuesday.

Shelburne residents vote at Cowell Gymnasium on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Shelburne residents Sarah Pirtle and Emily Stone are checked in to vote at Cowell Gymnasium by election worker Rita Jaros on Tuesday.

Shelburne residents Sarah Pirtle and Emily Stone are checked in to vote at Cowell Gymnasium by election worker Rita Jaros on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

Staff Writer

Published: 05-21-2025 11:22 AM

Modified: 05-22-2025 4:16 AM


SHELBURNE — With no contested races, Tuesday’s town election ushered in a new Selectboard member, Rodney McBride, and saw write-in votes decide the fate of four positions with no candidates on the ballot.

According to Town Clerk Joseph Judd, this year’s election saw 166 of the town’s 1,563 voters cast their ballots, making for a 10.6% voter turnout.

Voters reelected several incumbents seeking another term, and elected a few candidates to new positions, such as McBride, a lifelong Shelburne resident who has previously served on the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. He was elected to serve a three-year term on the Selectboard with 138 votes, and will replace Tricia Yacovone-Biagi, who did not seek reelection.

Shelburne residents will see other new faces in town government, as four residents were elected by write-in votes to positions that had no candidates running on the ballot. They are as follows:

■Board of Assessors, three-year term — James Bragdon, owner of Country Maple Farms, was elected with 39 write-in votes.

■Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee, three-year term — Maya Winfrey, a current member of the Board of Assessors, was elected with 35 write-in votes.

■Recreation Committee, three-year term — Daniel Post, a former member of the Energy Committee, was elected with two write-in votes.

■Planning Board, one-year term — Geoff Stack was elected with 57 write-in votes.

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In addition to electing those four write-in candidates, voters supported every candidate whose name appeared on the ballot in uncontested races. They are as follows:

■Town clerk, three-year term — incumbent Joseph Judd, 157 votes.

■Moderator, one-year term — incumbent Roland Giguere, 144 votes.

■Planning Board, five-year term — incumbent T. Wilson Flanders, 147 votes.

■Shelburne Free Public Library trustees, two seats with three-year terms — Tom Webler, 147 votes, and Michael Sokolovsky, 126 votes.

■Recreation Committee, five-year term — incumbent Diana Hardina, 151 votes.

■Tree warden, one-year term — Garth LaPointe, 144 votes.

■Constable, three-year term — incumbent James Stacy, 147 votes.

With no ballot candidates and no successful write-in candidates, a one-year seat on the Recreation Committee remains unfilled.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.