BELCHERTOWN — Voters in Monday’s town election narrowly selected incumbent Jennifer Turner and former Finance Committee member Jonathan Ritter to serve three-year terms on the Select Board.

The race for two Select Board seats was close, with only 226 votes between the most-voted candidate and third-place finisher Angela Battle. Ritter received 2,176 votes and Turner had 2,078 votes. Battle finished third with 1,950 votes.

“It’s a little weird, I’m feeling a lot of emotions,” Turner said. “I’m sad to see the person I’ve been on the board with this whole time leave the board, which is Ed [Boscher], but I’m looking forward to working with this new group of people.”

Ritter and Turner were sworn in by Town Clerk Theresa Camilen on Monday night after the first tally of the unofficial results was completed. Ritter said he was accompanied by his wife and children.

“I think I’m speechless and thankful and happy all at the same time. I’m ready to work for Belchertown,” Ritter said.

Ritter ran on a platform of preserving the Belchertown community that he, his father and his grandfather all called home. The financial knowledge Ritter holds as both a four-year Finance Committee member and manager of his U.S. Air Force unit’s budgets while he served as an aeromedical evacuations officer meets residents urgent request for a fiscally-stable town.

As a stay-at-home father, Ritter is heavily involved in Belchertown’s baseball league, and viewed development of sports and recreational programming for families as an untapped source of revenue for Belchertown. He also champions social benefits for seniors and veterans.

Turner is officially the most senior member of the Select Board, having sat in the leadership position since 2019. A major architect of Belchertown’s economic development plan, she decided to run for a third term to steer the course of the Belchertown Branding Initiative, the Wayfinding and Signage project and developing the implementation plan for the Master Plan’s economic development section.

Her next steps on the board will include streamlining town operations based on the newest Division of Local Services audit and supporting other cultural opportunities such as Dwight Day.

“I’m appreciative that we had such a large turnout for this very important election,” Turner said. “I’m happy Angela put her name in the ring, she fought a hard campaign, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else she can bring to the town.”

Residents leaving the polls on Monday said they watched all the candidate’s campaign materials, including Candidates Night, to make an informed decision. Resident Teresa Halperin heard each the candidates speak and met with two candidates personally to ask additional questions. She went with the candidates that prioritized community investment.

Casey Kibbe, a physical education teacher in Belchertown and mother, said she spoke with each candidate individually, but also watched the various committee meetings of each candidate to see their municipal actions.

“To me, it’s always one of those things, your actions speak louder than words,” Kibbe said.

Uncontested races

In uncontested races, incumbent Michael Holfer won a seat on the Planning Board, and Gail Gramarossa will return to the Board of Health after almost two decades. Jake Hulseberg, an educator of 17 years and father with two kids in Belchertown schools, will serve on the School Committee.

“Jake Hulseberg is the perfect candidate for School Committee, and we’re going to be we’re a very lucky town to have him,” resident Erin Francis said.