If anything is to be taken away from this year's Housing Authority election between incumbent Sandra Conant and challenger Elaine Sears, Conant says voters should remember that every vote counts. "It’s very, very important to vote," she said. "Even if they consider it small, every vote really means a lot." Conant, a 15-year member of the Housing Authority, defeated Sears by a final tally of 377-374 after town officials and volunteers conducted a recount of the April 26 election at Easton Town Offices Wednesday. After the election in April, the original tally was 377-375. Conant, who said she …

Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis said Wednesday that Elaine Sears had returned the necessary paperwork to officially request a recount for the April 26 Housing Authority election results. Sears, a Council on Aging bus driver, lost by two votes on election day, 377-375, to incumbent Sandra Conan, a Parker Terrace resident who has been on the Housing Authority for 15 years. Gillis said of the 128 signatures submitted for certification, only 46, or 36 percent,  voted in the election. He said it was not a requirement, however, for signatures to come from those who voted. Sears said she originally opted …

The Housing Authority candidate who lost by two votes at Tuesday's election is petitioning for a recount, she announced Thursday. Elaine Sears, a driver for the Council on Aging lost to Sandy Conant Tuesday, 377-375. She had said Tuesday evening that she would not request a recount, but changed her mind when many of her supporters asked her to pull a petition, she said. "I received many calls from my supporters encouraging me to request a recount of the vote because the 2-point margin was so close," she said in a statement Thursday. Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis said Sears has until next Friday to…

Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis said voter turnout at Tuesday's election was more than double what it was last year - but that still wasn't very good. In all, 886 voters stopped in at Oliver Ames High School to elect Dan Murphy to the Board of Selectmen and Sandra Conant to the Housing Authority in the election's two contested races. Last year saw a turnout of 414 voters, Gillis said. He said approximately six percent of Easton's voters came out Tuesday. Finance Committee member Dan Murphy defeated Easton Republican Town Committee member Dave Nelson by a tally of 612-246, and incumbent Sandra Conant…

"Two votes - can you believe it?" said Sandra Conant when she arrived at Oliver Ames High School shortly after votes had been tallied to reveal she had narrowly defeated Elaine Sears for a Housing Authority position Tuesday night. Conant won what Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis called the closest election he had seen since he took over three years ago. Conant, who has been on the Housing Authority for 15 years, retained her seat by a tally of 377-375 in an election that brought out 886 voters, or 6 percent of enrolled voters, according to unofficial numbers released by Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis …

Dan Murphy said previous involvement on the Finance Committee and support from family, friends and neighbors were key in his decisive victory Tuesday in the race for a one-year seat on the Board of Selectmen. "I’ve been involved for a long time – I think that was the most important thing," said Murphy, who has lived in Easton for most of his life. "I got a lot of really good feedback from the debate." Murphy defeated Dave Nelson by a tally of 612 - 246 in an election that brought out 886 voters, or 6 percent of enrolled voters, according to unofficial numbers released by Town Clerk Jeremy …

10:20 pm Important bullets from tonight's election results (all results still remain unofficial at this time): Dan Murphy beat out Dave Nelson in every precinct on his way to a 612-246 victory for the one-year Board of Selectmen seat. Sandra Conant beat out Elaine Sears for Housing Authority by two votes, 377-375. Sears will not be filing a petition for a recount, she said. Irwin Cohen and David Mills won as write-ins to the Finance Committee - Cohen for a one-year seat and Mills for a three-year seat. All unopposed candidates were victorious 886 people voted today, approximately 6% of voters…

Two candidates are running for the one year Board of Selectmen seat. Dan Murphy is a current member of the Finance Committee. He is an accountant and owner of Murphy Tax Services. Dave Nelson is a member of the Republican Town Committee and an employee at Rexa Kosa America, a West Bridgewater manufacturer of hydraulic actuators, and now works there as the manager of product engineering. Here is how they answered a few questions from Patch. Do you think the South Coast Rail project is good for the town? Murphy:  No.  I think the downside outweighs the upside.  The town will be disrupted and …

Two candidates are running for a five year term on the Easton Housing Authority. Sandra Conant (right), the incumbent, has been on the Housing Authority for 15 years. She is a Parker Terrace resident. Elaine Sears (left) is a newcomer vying for the one open seat against Conant. She is a driver for the Easton Council on Aging. Here is how they answered a few questions from Patch. Why are you running for Housing Authority? Sears: I’m running for housing authority because I want to make sure that things are run properly there and I just want to give back to the town. I’ve been driving in and out…

In Part II of the selectmen debate forum sponsored by Easton Patch, Easton Community Access Television and the Easton Journal, candidates Dan Murphy and Dave Nelson discussed Selectmen stipends, Stonehill College and the budget. The forum was held on Thursday, April 14 at Easton Community Access Television studios. Easton Journal Editor Donna Whitehead and Easton Patch Editor Patrick Maguire co-moderated the debate.

In Part I of the selectmen debate forum sponsored by Easton Patch, Easton Community Access Television and the Easton Journal, candidates Dan Murphy and Dave Nelson discussed the Community Preservation Act, the Southcoast Rail, fire stations and overrides. The forum was held on Thursday, April 14 at Easton Community Access Television studios. Easton Journal Editor Donna Whitehead and Easton Patch Editor Patrick Maguire co-moderated the debate. Check back Sunday for Part II of the candidate forum where candidates will discuss the budget, Stonehill College, and Selectmen stipends.

Two local businessmen, who have diverse backgrounds but moved into town about the same time, are running for Selectmen in the town election on April 26.  The winner will be serving only one year, but it is the first time the town has had a contested race for a selectmen’s seat since 2005.  Dan Murphy, who lives at 56 Cosma Road, and David Nelson, who lives at 1 Randall Street, are vying for the seat of John Haederle, who left to take a job in Washington, D.C.  That term expires next spring.  Another candidate, Todd Gornstein, is running unopposed for the open seat vacated by Irwin Cohen, and …

Board of Selectmen candidates David Nelson and Daniel Murphy will convene Thursday to debate the issues and discuss topics affecting the town. A portion of the debate will require Easton residents to submit questions. Both Nelson and Murphy are vying for the one-year selectmen seat. The forum will be sponsored by Easton Cable Access Television, Easton Patch and the Easton Journal. It will be taped on Thursday, April 14 and be posted on Patch on Saturday, April 16. It will also air on ECAT Comcast 9 and FIOS 22 at the following times: Friday April 15, 22 - 8pmSaturday April 16, 23 - 9am, …

John Haederle's January departure from the Board of Selectmen before the end of his term to take a job in Washington threw an unexpected hook into this year's Board of Selectmen race, with an election scheduled for April 26. Two people will be vying for the remainder of Haederle's term, while only one person filed nomination papers for the 3-year term left vacant by Irwin Cohen, who is leaving the Board of Selectmen. Candidates must specify which seat they are running for. David Charles Nelson and Finance Committee member Daniel Murphy will be vying for Haedlerle's vacant one-year seat, which…