Hampden voters elected Eric Jarvi in a special election to fill a vacant Town Council seat.
Jarvi received 207 votes, beating his two competitors, Hugh Porter and Perry Antone, Sr., who received 74 and 71 votes, respectively. A fourth candidate, David Swihart, was on the ballot but had dropped out of the running at a candidate event in January and endorsed Porter. He received three votes.
The special election was called after Councilor Peter Erickson resigned last year.
Jarvi was formerly a councilor for six years and was the only candidate with previous experience on the council.
The candidates brought different backgrounds and varying levels of previous public service to the race but all said the winner would have to work with the other councilors to lower Hampden’s cost of living.
Hampden residents have seen higher property taxes this year compared to recent years and are facing a looming revaluation that will be finished this summer that may raise taxes even more. Jarvi will now be one of seven town councilors working to make the town more affordable.
The current tax rate for town residents is $17.65 for every $1,000 in property value. This means a property valued at $200,000 would be taxed $3,530.
Jarvi was the sole candidate to say he supports the current town budget during a candidate event in January. The budget was created with input from the current council and staff, but changes will need to be made in the future to lower costs, he said at the time.