LEYDEN — Residents reelected incumbent Erica Jensen for another three-year term on the Selectboard during Tuesday’s town election.
Jensen received 110 votes, while challenger Craig Ryan got 50. According to results from Town Clerk George Stephan, 168 voters cast their ballots out of the 631 registered voters in town, making for a 26.6% voter turnout.
Although Jensen could not be reached on Wednesday, in advance of the election, she said she hopes to continue building upon the work of the Selectboard, and using the knowledge and experience she’s developed over her past two terms. She has served on the board since 2021, when she was first elected to fill the one-year remainder of a term following the resignation of Lance Fritz, and was elected to a full three-year term in 2023.
“I think that having some experience working with municipal government is important. Experience goes a long way, and I feel pretty secure in my experience,” Jensen said in a phone interview last week. “I absolutely love Leyden, and having Leyden stay the kind of town it is is so important. But there’s a lot to do for it to run correctly, and having experience coming into a potentially tricky budget cycle will be key.”
Ryan said he felt it was a good race and he appreciates all the support he got, despite being new to town. He added that he hopes to run for Selectboard again in a few years.
“I feel like I gave it a good shot. It was my first time running, and I knew it would be a tough race — she’s a good candidate,” Ryan said. “I just appreciate everyone who came out and voted for me.”
Ryan had also sought and won a seat on the Board of Health. Although he was the only ballot candidate, earning 77 votes, he fended off Eloise Tuell, who garnered 72 write-in votes, in a close race. Ryan said he learned a lot about the town’s health regulations in the process of building his house, and he hopes his experience will be of service to the board.
“I feel like I can help out,” he said.
Other election results:
- Constable (three-year term): Gary Russell, 147 votes.
- Library trustee (three-year term): Thomas Raffensperger, 154 votes.
- Moderator (one-year term): John “Jack” Golden, 144 votes.
- Planning Board (five-year term): Emily Yazwinski, 151 votes.
- Tree warden (one-year term): William Brooks, 164 votes.
The full results, complete with write-ins, can be seen at bit.ly/leydenvotes.
