The Greenville Select Board will be appointing a third member after the winner of a tie-breaker between three write-in candidates for the position declined the office.
On March 11, there were two seats open on the Select Board: A two-year term that was filled by Charles Buttrick, who had been serving as an appointed member of the board for that seat, and a three-year term that had no candidate.
At the polls, several residents submitted write-in votes for the position, though no one was actively campaigning. The vote ended in a three-way tie among Tom Falter, who has served on several town boards, including the Zoning and Planning Board and the Mascenic School Board, Maggie Bickford, a former selectwoman who resigned her post in 2024 due to health reasons, and Marshall Buttrick, the current town moderator. Each got four write-in votes.
According to New Hampshire state law, when there is an election tie, the race is decided by a drawing of lots.
On Wednesday, Buttrick and Bickford met with the Greenville Town Clerk for the lot drawing. Falter declined to attend, but a lot was still drawn on his behalf. The “short straw” designating the winner was pulled by Bickford, who immediately declined the position.
According to the law, the winner of the lot draw is declared the winner of the race, and there is no “second place” or a second drawing of lots among the remaining candidates. When Bickford declined the role, the seat remained empty and requires an appointment by the Select Board for the remainder of the year. Next March, the position will be on the ballot for a two-year term.
The Select Board voted unanimously to post a notice requesting letters of interest from those who wish to serve on the board. Candidates can mail a letter to Town Hall or email Town Administrator Tara Sousa at administrator@greenvillenh.org.
Letters of interest must be received by April 7. The board will discuss the appointment during its regular board meeting on April 8.
In other election write-in news, there were no candidates on the ballot for two seats with three-year terms as library trustees. The write-in winners were Natalie Klebes, with 90 votes, and Deb Walsh with 23 votes. Klebes has accepted the position. Walsh has not yet responded to the notification of her win.