Arlington Election Results 2020: Newcomers Diggins, Exton Elected

ARLINGTON, MA — First-time candidate Lenard Diggins edged out another newcomer, Michaiah Healey, by less than 100 votes for a seat on the Select Board in a hotly contested Town Election Saturday. Meanwhile, newcomer Elizabeth Exton topped the School Committee race with more than 28 percent of the vote.

Voters re-elected Diane Mahon to the Select Board and Paul Schlichtman and Bill Hayner to the School Committee.

In an open field for Town Clerk, Juliana Brazile was elected by a wide margin. Former Town Clerk Stephanie Lucarelli was placed on leave last August after filing Town Meeting articles two months late, leaving the race open for three first-time candidates.

Jo Anne Preston ran away with the race for Housing Authority, receiving 66.85 percent of the vote to incumbent Joseph Daly's 32.9 percent.

The election was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak, but state law allowed an expansion of early and absentee voting. The town undertook measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus at the polls as well.

Due to reduced staffing at Town Hall, ACMi did not post live results on election night.

See the unofficial Town Election results below (elected candidates are in bold):

Select Board (2) for 3 years

- Lenard T. Diggins; 6,208 votes, 32.69 percent
- Diane M. Mahon (incumbent); 6,634 votes, 34.94 percent
- Michaiah Healy; 6,120 votes, 32.23 percent

School Committee (3) for 3 years

- Elizabeth R. Exton; 7,524 votes, 28.65 percent
- Lynette Martyn; 5,572 votes, 21.21 percent
- Paul Schlichtman (incumbent); 6,577 votes, 25.04 percent
- Bill Hayner (incumbent); 6,544 votes, 24.92 percent

Assessors (1) for 3 years

- Errol Tashjian; 2,066 votes, 21.18 percent
- Mary Winstanley O'Connor (incumbent); 5,657 votes, 58 percent
- Gordon Jamieson; 2,020 votes, 20.71 percent

Town Clerk (1) for 3 years
- Juliana H. Brazile; 4,014 votes, 39.28 percent
- Janice A. Weber; 3,034 votes, 29.69 percent
- Patti J. Sawtelle; 3,161 votes, 30.93 percent

Housing Authority (1) for 5 years
- Joseph S. Daly (incumbent); 3,338 votes, 32.9 percent
- Jo Anne Preston; 6,782 votes, 66.85 percent

Voter turnout was 34.8 percent, according to the Town Clerk's office. There were also several contested races for Town Meeting seats; complete results can be found here.