School Committee chair Kyla McSweeney will return for another term, joined by newcomer Sandra Irwin, in the main contested race in Monday’s Annual Town Election.

McSweeney garnered a total of 653 votes, winning all five precincts. Irwin won 518 votes, coming in second in every precinct but Precinct 1.

Sravan Krishna, the third candidate, received 447 votes.

The Independent spoke on the phone with McSweeney at 9:15 p.m. Surrounded by supporters who gathered at a party at her home, McSweeney talked about her role and the future of the school system.

“I’m very excited to continue the work we’ve started on the School Committee,” she said. “There’s a lot still left to do.”

McSweeney noted that “good things are coming” for the Hopkinton Public Schools. She has been in close contact with Superintendent Evan Bishop as the hiring process for new members of the administrative team is underway.

Susan Rothermich, the School Department’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations, is retiring at the end of the school year, prompting a search for her successor for one of the administration’s key positions.

McSweeney also offered kind words for her two competitors in a close but friendly race. She campaigned jointly with Krishna, who has volunteer experience on the Economic Development Advisory Board and previously with the Zoning Advisory Committee and the Design Review Board.

“While I am disappointed that Sravan was not elected,,” she said, “I am happy to be working with Sandra and will see what she has to offer.”

“Thank you to everyone who supported me, encouraged me, volunteered, and took the time to vote in this election,” Irwin shared via email shortly after the unofficial results were released by Degan. “I’m truly honored by the trust the community has placed in me.

“As a parent of three young children, I care deeply about our schools and the experience every student, educator, and family has here in Hopkinton,” she continued. “I’m looking forward to listening, learning, and working collaboratively to support strong schools and a strong future for our town.”

Mannan returns to Board of Health

The Board of Health race also was contested. Chair Nasiba Mannan trounced opponent Dimitry Zuckerman, 649-197, in his first race for public office.

Mannan has served on the Board of Health for the past three years, including the past year as chair. She stressed during her campaign that the board helped the Health Department emerge from the pandemic as a state leader despite staffing shortages and budget reductions.

Turnout reaches 8%

Town Clerk Connor Degan noted that 8% of the voters turned out on this sunny summer-like Monday, equaling “just over 940 as our total.” He said he had hoped for a 10% turnout of 1,300.

“With no ballot questions and limited contentious races, it was not bad,” said Degan. “It was definitely not our worst turnout for a local election.”

Degan was assisted at the polls by 29 volunteers, whom he called “truly gatekeepers” of the electoral process.

“The truth when it comes to elections and democracy in general, it only works when everyone’s involved,” he added.

Constable write-in votes to be tallied

Two candidates, Jason Watson and Daniel Harvey, ran write-in campaigns for the sole constable seat. Because they were write-ins, the votes will take longer to count.

During the Meet the Candidates event earlier this month, Harvey spoke about his background as a former park ranger in North Carolina and at Hopkinton State Park. He currently serves as a traffic constable.

Watson, a member of the Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee and a software engineer, stressed his desire to volunteer in the community.

Degan noted that it would take the remaining volunteers Monday night about three hours to tabulate the results.

“So it makes for a long day,” he added, noting that some volunteers stayed at the polls for the entire day. Voting began at 7 a.m.

Updates will be provided as information becomes available.