CLAREMONT — Longtime City Councilor Nick Koloski was elected to his seventh two-year term Tuesday, topping the field in a seven-way race for four at-large seats on the City Council.
But fellow incumbent Mike Demars, who was appointed to the council in May to fill a vacancy, narrowly lost his seat, finishing 12 votes behind fourth-place finisher Matt Mooshian, a community organizer with a nonprofit.
William Limoges and Lucas “Rocky” Beliveau won the other two at-large City Council seats. Koloski had 960 votes, followed by Beliveau, 822, Limoges, 791, and Mooshian, with 721 votes.
Demars, a local business owner, had 709 votes, followed by Raymond Hughes, 474, and Adam Fontaine 344.
The 27-year-old Mooshian, who has lived in Claremont for five years and previously twice applied for council appointments following resignations, said Tuesday evening that his campaign worked hard to get his message out.
“Tonight’s victory was the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of dedicated people. We knocked on doors and I think our message of what we can and want to do in Claremont connected with voters. I am looking forward to going to work for the people of Claremont.”
In uncontested races, City Councilor Dale Girard was elected mayor with 1,265 votes, and City Councilor Debora Matteau won the assistant mayor’s post with 1,059 votes, replacing Mayor Charlene Lovett and Assistant Mayor Allen Damren, both of whom did not run.
Ward I City Councilor Andrew O’Hearne was reelected with 250 votes, Ward II Councilor James Contois with 400 votes, and Ward III Councilor Jonathan Stone with 280 votes. They were unopposed on the ballot, and write-in campaigns targeting O’Hearne and Contois failed to garner much support.
Turnout citywide was 24%, or 1,475 of the city’s 6,202 registered voters.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
