Funicella wins tight selectman's race

"Absolutely amazing," Gino Funicella said Tuesday evening after learning he's the town's newest selectman. "To beat a 15-year selectman, I feel like that's quite an accomplishment. At least I know what I'll be doing for the next three years on Monday nights."Funicella, who moved to New Hampshire from Massachusetts 16 years ago, has lived in Jackson for the past five years. He defeated Frank DiFruscio, 182-171, in the race for the seat vacated by the retiring Scott Hayes, who served the town for four years."I think I bring a new face to the situation," Funicella said. "I want to be a good selectman and I want to do all I can to keep the town proceeding onward and upward. I'm honored by the townspeople who voted for me and I'm honored by the strong voter turnout, that makes for the best elections... We have a lot of nice people in this town. I hope the people who voted against me know that I'm working for them in their best interest and I promise to keep the town going in the right direction."DiFruscio wished to thank his supporters. "I'd like to thank all of the people who supported me, not only this time around but throughout the years, I really appreciate it," he said.Funicella promises to look out for the taxpayer. "My taxes have doubled in just five years," he said, "and they may double again in the next five years. I think we have to be fiscally responsible."In the other contested races on Tuesday's town ballot, Alicia Hawkes defeated Joan Davis, 143-78, for a three-year term as cemetery trustee; and Margaret Kramp topped Judith Botsford, 115-98, for a six-year term as a supervisor of the checklists.All three zoning amendments passed, each by over 150 votes. The other notable news to come out of Tuesday was a non-binding referendum question to support town meeting times alternating between day and night or are in favor of all night town meetings. It was close with 163 preferring only night town meetings, and 157 supporting alternating day and night town meetings. Incidentally, over 120 people attended town meeting Tuesday morning.There were no contested races on the school ballot with Candide Kane, school board three years; Tim Scott, moderator for a year; and Carry Scott, school clerk for a year, all being elected.