HARTFORD — Voters on Tuesday elected two newcomers to the Hartford Selectboard in a special election that saw candidates tout their commitment to civility and ability to bring people together.
A two-way race for a three-year term on the board ended with Michael Hoyt, an employee relations consultant at Dartmouth College, defeating former Selectboard member Mike Morris, 395-375.
In a separate race, Lannie Collins, who serves as a full-time caretaker for his father, garnered 319 votes to defeat two other candidates for a two-year term.
Mary Erdei, a retired educator, won 230 votes for Collins’ seat while Brett Mayfield, the town’s health officer, received 216.
Hoyt said after the results were announced that he’s excited about the win. He said he intends to listen to all views while in office, even those he might not agree with.
“I’d like to go back to a Selectboard that’s almost boring,” he said, adding that an almost boring agenda includes focusing on roads and infrastructure. “That demands developing relationships with everyone in town.”
That sentiment comes after the board saw several months of upheaval and controversy.
The special election was called in June after Selectboard members Julia Dalphin and Rachel Edens tendered their resignation from the seven-member body in quick succession.
Hartford’s town charter requires voters to choose new members when there are two or more vacancies on the board.
Edens, in her May resignation letter, said unexpected medical issues forced her to step down and, in an interview with the Valley News, explained that she suffered a pulmonary embolism that nearly proved fatal.
Meanwhile, Dalphin said she had accepted a new job as a chief quality officer for a home health agency in Barre, Vt., in February, shortly before she was elected during Town Meeting. Dalphin wrote in her letter that she’d hoped to juggle work and board duties but said her busy schedule forced her to miss meetings.
Overall, the Selectboard has seen five resignations in the last year, some of whom cited the position’s workload, which can sometimes include long meetings and other responsibilities that can lead to 20-hour workweeks for Selectboard duties alone.
Board members also have taken large amounts of criticism for their handling of racial justice and policing issues, and significant change in town government followed.
Over the last year, both Town Manager Brannon Godfrey and Police Chief Phil Kasten stepped down after the town passed the Welcoming Hartford Ordinance, which bars police from sharing a person’s citizenship information with federal authorities.
Before the ordinance was approved by voters — and later the board — Godfrey raised concerns that the ordinance conflicts with federal law and might prevent the town from receiving federal grants. Kasten also was critical of the measure but cited “family and career” as reasons for his departure.
Voters at the polls on Tuesday said the tumult left them wanting stability and pragmatism in Hartford’s leaders.
“For the Selectboard to move forward, I don’t think they need to be adversarial but more diplomatic with each other and more open to ideas,” said John Heath, of White River Junction.
Heath said he voted for Hoyt and Mayfield because of their diverse backgrounds and ability to bring people together.
“The town seems pretty divided in a lot of ways,” he said. “I think it’s partially reflective of the times.”
Many residents also said they were looking for candidates who would continue to advocate for the same progressive causes their predecessors championed.
“I was bummed to see folks step down, and I want to make sure that we’re replacing them with other progressive, liberal-minded individuals,” said Ellen Hender, of White River Junction.
“I think there’s been a lot of hate and racism, and I think it’s really important that we have people who are going to stand up against that,” added Hender, who said she voted for Erdei and Hoyt.
Meanwhile, voters Stephen Plume and Martha McDaniel both said they were searching for candidates who would bring civility and balance to the Selectboard. Both declined to say whom they voted for.
“I definitely was not looking at an ideology or party affiliation but trying to find people that I thought I could trust to exercise good judgment,” said Plume, who lives in Hartford Village.
McDaniel said she wanted a Selectboard with medical knowledge to help lead the town through the coronavirus pandemic, while also keeping an open mind on racial justice and equity issues.
John O’Neil, who lives in White River Junction, also said he was looking for civility in candidates. He voted for Hoyt and Mayfield.
“I think they’re looking more forward for the town of Hartford instead of trying to keep things as they used to be,” he said after voting.
Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.