CLARKSBURG, Mass. — A surprise write-in candidate has won a seat on the Select Board. 

 

Allen M. Arnold garnered 86 write-in votes on Thursday to beat Karin V. Robert, a former board member who had been the only candidates to take out papers. Robert earned 72 votes. 

 

However, she did win a vacant five-year seat on the Planning Board. 

 

Longtime moderator Bryan Tanner was also written in with 23 votes but he had indicated last year, when he was also written in, that he wasn't interested in continuing. It's not clear if he will accept the post. 

 

Ernest Dix was returned as tree warden with eight votes and current School Committee Chairwoman Laura D. Wood retained her seat with 147. Neither had a challenger. 

 

Two other incumbents, War Memorial Trustee Joseph Bushika III and Library Trustee Linda Hurlbut were re-elected with 156 votes each. Cynthia Schock was elected to the Board of Health.

 

Town Clerk Carol Jammalo reported a very light turnout in an election that had had no races and also required precautionary measures because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of registered voters casting ballots was 172 out of 1,146, or 15 percent.