Republican candidates swept the Windham ballot box Tuesday with voter turnout at 13 percent. A recount will be conducted in one of the races.

Newcomer Blaine Davis defeated incumbent Michael Shaughnessy by five votes for the at-large council seat. It was the 28-year-old Davis’ first attempt at a political office.

One of those votes mattered very dearly to him, Davis said.

On Monday night, Davis’ grandfather Robert York died. Davis said his late grandfather, 79, had already voted by absentee ballot and the grief almost caused him to stay away from the polls.

“My grandmother said, he would have wanted you to get out there,” said Davis in a bittersweet moment. He said he had to take a few breaks from greeting voters to regain his composure.

“He was proud of me running, and he was in the military and fought for people to have the right to vote,” he said.

“Every little thing that everybody did made a huge difference,” said Davis while thanking the voters of Windham.

Windham communications director Jim Webb said Shaughnessy was ahead by about 60 votes until the absentee ballots were counted.

Shaughnessy said he felt disappointed by the results but wished the town council well.

“I wish them the best, all of them,” he said.

Shaughnessy said he wished local Democrats had gotten more involved and that the June election tends to have a higher conservative turnout.

A hand recount was conducted after the election because of the slim margin between Shaughnessy and Davis, and an official recount will be completed next week.

South district electee Donna Chapman said she was congratulated by town councilor Liz Wisecup and felt welcomed in her new role on the council.

“It doesn’t matter, win or lose, I said I would be involved in town politics,” she said. She said she hopes her opponent stays involved in town politics.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had my name out there. I came in at the 11th hour and put up a good fight,” said Chapman’s challenger Michael Wozich. He said he felt good about his campaign and had no regrets.

Chapman also said that she wants to help the town make the most of the Keddy Mill project. While she said she wished the town hadn’t got involved with it in the first place, she said she wants to push efforts to get federal grants by declaring it a brownfield.

“I feel fabulous,” said the new North District councilor Kaile Warren. “I think the people of Windham have spoken and they’re looking for changes, and they have the right people on the council for it.”

One of those changes, he said, is that the school board and the town council are poised to work together like never before. He said there was a lot of talking between the board members while standing outside the polls greeting voters and said it will lead to a tighter working relationship.

He also thanked the poll workers who volunteered their time for the election process.

School Board

Incumbent Republicans Mary Wassick and Jeffrey Vermette held onto their seats in the school board election. Independent challenger Marjorie Govoni lagged behind Vermette by 61 votes, or 8.5 percent.

“I’m certainly happy,” said Wassick, who captured the most votes in the school board election. She said she celebrated by going out to Pat’s Pizza and Thatcher’s restaurants and thanked the voters of Windham who turned out Tuesday.

Vermette thanked the voters for their confidence in reelecting him. He did not put any campaign signs out this year and said it was because he was busy.

“I didn’t take anything for granted, but my work and family came first, and my responsibility to the school board,” he said.

“I thought I did very good,” said Govoni. She said she may run again next year but is not sure.

“Let’s put it this way, a lot can happen in a year,” she said.

Out of 11,318 registered voters, 1,523 voted in person or by absentee ballot for Tuesday’s election.

“It was a low turnout, but we expected a low turnout,” said Linda Morrell. She was reelected as town clerk on Tuesday in an unopposed race. A lot of the voters who did show up expressed taxes as their main concern when voting.

“It was about doing my civic duty,” said voter Bonnie Hicks of Frog Pond Road. “And trying to save some tax money.”

“I don’t like spending money we don’t have,” said Terry Carras, of Aerie Drive, fresh from his shift at the Portland post office and still wearing his uniform.

Leon Pride, of Nash Road, said his vote was influenced on keeping Windham a quiet, rustic town, but expressed doubt that that’s the future of the town.

“I’d like to see someone else in there for a change,” said Charlie Meganson, who lives on Route 302, in regard to the town council. “I’d like to get someone to help us out with taxes.”

Windham07election1: Charlie Melanson, 76, of Windham prepares to turn in his ballot on Tuesday’s state and municipal election.Windham07election2: Charlie Melanson, 76, of Windham prepares to turn in his ballot on Tuesday’s state and municipal election with the help of poll volunteer Elsie Haskell.Windham07election3: Windham saw 1,523 voters on Tuesday’s state and municipal election out of a pool of 11,318 registered voters.Windham07election4: Bonnie Hicks, 44, of Frog Pond Road takes her ballot from poll volunteer Pam Barr at Tuesday’s state and municipal election. Also pictured is poll volunteer Paulette Shepard.Windham07election5: Bonnie Hicks, 44, of Frog Pond Road places her completed ballot in a voting machine under the supervision of poll volunteer Jane Diamond, who is the wife of Cumberland County State Senator Bill Diamond.