PELHAM — A write-in candidate was the leading vote-getter in School Board balloting yesterday.

Write-in candidate Debbie Ryan tallied the most votes, 1,274, and will be joined on the board by Lorraine Dube, who received 1,119 votes.

Angele Diack came in third place, tallying 1,096 votes. School Board members Bruce Couture and Linda Koehler opted to not run for re-election.

Write-in campaigns are typically tough to wage and win, but Ryan said she had a lot of help in her effort.

"It was a huge, huge team effort," Ryan said.

She said she wants to bring her passion and energy to pressing problems including school overcrowding.

On the town side, voters elected former selectman Edmund Gleason to the Board of Selectmen. He received 1,365 votes to the 1,159 votes received by George "Joe" Puddister.

Selectman William McDevitt said Gleason brings needed experience to the panel. Gleason has been both a Budget Committee member and a selectman.

"We are in for a tough road the next few years because of the economy," McDevitt said. "Ed is knowledgeable about town budgets and will help us to control costs."

McDevitt said he was pleased that the police union contract was approved, 1,670-1,098. The town has been without a police contract for three years, and that has made it difficult for the town to hire and retain police officers, McDevitt said.

The proposed construction of a $4.7 million fire station did not fare as well, failing by a vote of 1,057-1,734. Supporters knew the station would be a tough sell, given the economy and the 60-percent majority needed for the bond to pass.

About an hour before the polls closed, acting fire Chief Jim Midgley was standing outside Pelham High School holding a sign asking voters to support the station.

Midgley had his fingers crossed, but said his gut feeling was that the department would not tally the necessary votes to carry the day.

"I understand the economy is horrible," he said.

This was the third year the voters have rejected a new station. This proposal was brought forward as a citizen petition.

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