Candidates and supporters wait in the Fairhaven town hall Banquet Room for the results of the election on 6/9/26, L-R: Stasia Powers; Pam Kuechler (newly elected Select Board member); Miles Grant (Select Board candidate); Rick Trapilo (newly elected Select Board member); Margaret Trapilo. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven voters soundly rejected a Proposition 2 1/2 override attempt at the annual town election on 6/9/26. Unofficial results were announced by Town Clerk, Elisabeth Horan, after polls closed during the town’s traditional post election event held in the town hall banquet room, when candidates were given a chance to address voters one last time.
Voters also ousted an incumbent Planning Board member, and welcomed a couple of new faces. Voters faced three ballot questions.
Ms. Horan said 3308 voters cast ballots (plus hand counts*) for a 24% turnout.*
Question #1 would have removed police and fire from Civil Service. Both unions voted to revoke Civil Service as part of contract negotiations and it passed at the annual Town Meeting in 2023. To be enacted, a town-wide vote is required.
Voters opted to keep the two departments in Civil Service 1911 to 1273.* (1)
Question 2 would have allowed the town to assess $649K over the Proposition 2 1/2 limit for FY27. It was soundly rejected, 1882 to 1399. (1)
Question 3 passed, 1826 to 1223, to adopt the town charter as passed at Town Meeting last year. (1)
Candidates and supporters wait in the Fairhaven town hall Banquet Room for the results of the election on 6/9/26, L-R: Stasia Powers; Pam Kuechler (newly elected Select Board member); Miles Grant (Select Board candidate); Rick Trapilo (newly elected Select Board member); Margaret Trapilo. Photo by Beth David.
The Select Board will have two new faces, although both are not new to town politics.
Pam Kuechler, who served on the School Committee for many years, was top vote-getter in the SB race with 1757 votes. Right behind her was Rick Trapilo, who lost his bid for SB last year, but has stayed active in town politics on a variety of issues. He received 1725 votes.
Miles Grant, who is currently serving on the Planning Board (no relation to Kevin Grant), came in third with 1544.
The SB had two open seats, as Charlie Murphy and Keith Silvia opted not to run for re-election.
Throughout the campaign, Mr. Trapilo was vocal about not supporting the override attempt, while Ms. Kuechler and Miles Grant both supported it.
Miles Grant told voters he had a “great time knocking on everybody’s doors.”
He thanked everyone who voted, held signs, volunteered; he congratulated the winners and wished outgoing SB members, Charlie Murphy and Keith Silvia, “the best.”
Miles Grant, who lost his bid for a seat on the Fairhaven Select Board, addresses voters after the results were announced at Fairhaven town hall on 6/9/26. Photo by Beth David.
Miles Grant still serves on the Planning Board. His term expires in 2028.
“Democracy won for the town of Fairhaven today,” said Mr. Trapilo, and noted the great turnout on a sunny day.
“We have some incredible challenges facing our community and town, as we just saw the override did not pass,” said Mr. Trapilo, adding the town is now looking at a $3 million deficit.
He said he looked forward to getting to work on day one with the board and town officials “to try to resolve that issue.”
“I feel thrilled,” Mr. Trapilo told the Neighb News after. “We worked hard. We met a lot of wonderful people.”
Rick Trapilo, who won a seat on the Fairhaven Select Board, addresses voters after the results were announced at Fairhaven town hall on 6/9/26. Photo by Beth David.
He said he heard from people that the town needs to live within its budget.
“He’s the best man for the job,” said Rick’s wife, Margaret Trapilo, adding she was “very proud.”
She admitted that time he will be away from home on town business is something she will not like.
“But its for a good cause,” she said.
Ms. Kuechler took her turn at the podium and thanked the voters first. She thank her family and her team for making it happen.
She said she was humbled and excited to get started.
Pam Kuechler, who won a seat on the Fairhaven Select Board, addresses voters after the results were announced at Fairhaven town hall on 6/9/26. Photo by Beth David.
“We have a lot ahead of us. It’s going to be quite a year,” said Ms. Kuechler, adding there are a lot of difficult decisions to be made and she is ready to be part of that to “make sure we do the best we can to move Fairhaven forward.”
Ms. Kuechler also thanked Mr. Murphy and Mr. Silvia for their service.
One thing about campaigning, she said: “No matter how many times you’ve done it, you meet new people, you learn new things about the town.”
Ms. Kuechler said also had good things to say about her fellow candidates, tell Miles his enthusiasm was “something to see,” and telling him not to let the loss stop him.
“It’s been an honor to get to know you,” she said. “And Rick, I look forward to serving with you.”
Planning Board had two separate races, both contested. One was for two full term seats, and three candidates ran: incumbent Kevin Grant (1713 votes), incumbent Sharon Simmons (1223), newcomer, Mona Phillips (1326); with Ms. Simmons getting edged out.
Kevin Grant, who won re-election to his seat on the Fairhaven Planning Board, addresses voters after the results were announced at Fairhaven town hall on 6/9/26. Photo by Beth David.
Kevin Grant thanked his family and everyone who ran. He said he looked forward to the next term.
Ms. Phillips said she was honored and humbled. She said thank-you for all the help “I got from all of you pretty much, and I’m looking forward to turning a page and moving forward.”
Mona Phillips, who won a seat on the Fairhaven Planning Board, addresses voters after the results were announced at Fairhaven town hall on 6/9/26. Photo by Beth David.
Ms. Simmons did not attend.
PB also had an unexpired term to fill, with Jennifer Cardoza (1630) and Andrew Panek (1133) vying for that seat.
Mr. Panek told voters it was an “exciting, energizing process.”
“What an experience,” he said to Ms. Cardoza, adding he was most excited about getting to know how the town works a little bit more.
He said he will see how he can “plug” himself in and support the town, and he is “excited for what lies ahead.”
Andrew Panek, who lost his bid for a seat on the Fairhaven Planning Board, addresses voters after the results were announced at Fairhaven town hall on 6/9/26. Photo by Beth David.
Mr. Panek told the Neighb News he met a lot of people and “built great relationships.”
He said he will look for the next opportunity and keep bettering himself.
“I hope I can be an asset,” said Mr. Panek.
Ms. Cardoza did not try to hide her excitement at winning when she had her turn at the podium.
Jennifer Cardoza, who won a seat on the Fairhaven Planning Board, shows her excitement as she addresses voters after the results were announced at Fairhaven town hall on 6/9/26. Photo by Beth David.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “I’m just excited to get to work.”
She said was a great day, standing outside, the weather was good, and the town has been “so energized.”
“This is the change,” she said. “This is going to be so great and I’m excited to get to work and work hard for Fairhaven.”
“I’m on cloud nine,” she told the Neighb News after. “It was a lot of work, a lot of long nights but it was worth it.”
Although she did not knock on doors because she said it was just not something she felt comfortable doing, she did have plenty of signs out, and she worked social media extensively. She also took advantage of all the free air tiime offered by FairhavenTV.
Donna McKenna, who ran unopposed for a seat on the Fairhaven School Committee, addresses voters after the results were announced at Fairhaven town hall on 6/9/26. Photo by Beth David.
Donna McKenna, who ran unopposed for a seat on the School Committee, a seat she has held in the past, thanked the voters for getting out on a beautiful day.
“And thanks for all the votes,” she said. “And again, thank you to everybody who actually ran. Because to put yourself out there is huge.”
Mr. Murphy, chairing his last SB meeting, closed by saying that elections can bring strong opinions, sprited debate and disappointment.
“That is the nature of democracy,” he said. “But regardless of how any of us voted, we all share a common interest in the success of our town and the well being of our neighbors.”
Mr. Murphy said the town’s challenges and opportunities belong to everyone and will require “cooperation, respect and a willingness to listen even when we disagree.”
“Let us move forward with humility in victory and grace in defeat, and renewed commitment to serving the entire community,” said Mr. Murphy.
The event is available on FairhavenTV.com
(1) Fixes numbers from previous versions.
*All numbers are unofficial and will change slightly when the hand counts are added in. The results should be certified in a few days. The total number of hand counts do not add up to enough votes to change the result of any single race. Hand counts are ballots that are isolated by the voting machine because of a problem with the way the ballot was marked, or because it includes a write-in.
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