Waterford ― Republicans retained control of the town’s nine-member Board of Education in Tuesday’s election as about 31% of voters cast their ballots at the town’s four polling places.

Four Democrats and five Republicans had vied for five spots on the nine-member school board.

Those elected for those five seats were incumbent Democrat Marcia Benvenuti, newcomer Democrat Laurie Wolfley, incumbent Republican Pat Fedor, incumbent Republican Craig Merriman and incumbent Republican Amanda Gates-Lamothe.

That leaves the Board of Education with five Republicans and four Democrats.

Board of Finance

Three democrats and four Republicans vied for four four-year seats on the Board of Finance.

Those elected were incumbent Democrat David Peabody, incumbent Democrat John W. “Bill” Sheehan, incumbent Republican J. Robert Tuneski and newcomer Republican Mike Rocchetti.

That leaves the the Board of Finance with four Democrats and three Republicans.

David Campo was re-elected to a third term as Town Clerk. Republican Abbas Danesh was elected to a third term as town treasurer. Republican Alan Wilensky was elected to a third term as tax collector.

The wins are based on preliminary numbers, there are still 264 absentee ballots, Campo said.

At the Republican headquarters on Rope Ferry Road Tuesday night, a hush fell over a crowd of about 40, broken up by the reading of numbers and the sound of felt marker on paper as Republican town clerk Campo read the numbers as they came in from Waterford’s first district.

d.drainville@theday.com