Lauter beats incumbent Riley in Hingham selectman's race

By Jessica Bartlett, Town Correspondent

Hingham’s Town Election proved eventful for many on Saturday, with challenger Irma Lauter beating incumbent John Riley for the selectmen’s seat with a vote of 2081 to 1435.

Both candidates garnered more votes than Bernard Manning (85), who has run for the seat two times previously to no avail.

Lauter previously ran for the seat and lost. With Saturday's victory, she will start as a newly elected selectman on Monday night at the continuation of Annual Town Meeting.

Lauter could not be immediately reached for comment.

Also surprising was the voters' defeat of a proposal to change the Treasurer/Collector's position from elected to appointed.

Although Town Meeting approved the change, the vote lost at the election in a vote of 1508 to 1489.

The third night of Town Meeting will continue on Monday with newly elected Moderator Michael Puzo, who won against Bernard Manning in a vote of 2847 to 599.

Puzo will take over for Tom O’Donnell, who has held the seat for 45 years. O’Donnell decided not to run for re-election this year to concentrate on other interests.

John Stoddard won a three-year term on the municipal light board against Roger Freeman in a vote of 2095 to 1119, additionally, Kevin Connelly (1625) won against Elizabeth James (626) and Patricia Neely (447) for a housing authority seat.

Additionally, Dennis Friedman (1731 votes) and Paul Gannon (2218 votes) beat Bernard Manning (867) again for the school committee seat.

All other races were uncontested. As such, Michael Shaughnessy will be elected to the board of assessors, Eileen McCracken as Town Clerk, Peter Bickford to the Board of Health, John Ryan to the Municipal Light board for a two-year term, Judith Sneath to Planning Board, Michael Salerno to Sewer Commission, and Budd Thorne, Jr. to the Recreation Commission.