Wareham Fire District voters on Saturday returned incumbent Prudential Committee member George Barrett but replaced Margaret Ishihara with challenger John Connolly Jr.

It was a close, three-way race for the two Prudential Committee seats. The final tally was Barrett 321, Connolly 319, and Ishihara 296.

The Prudential Committee seats were the only contested races in the election.

The Wareham Fire District supplies water and fire protection for much of the Town of Wareham. (A separate Onset Fire District performs the same function for the Onset portion of town.) Separate from the Town of Wareham, the Fire District is overseen by the elected five-member Prudential Committee.

"I've been a fireman for a long time. It's time for me to give something back," Connolly said Saturday, looking tired but relieved after 2 1/4 hours of vote counting during which none of the candidates appeared confident.

Asked what he thought made the difference in his successful challenge, Connolly said simply: "I put my name out there. Everyone's been plugging for me."

Barrett expressed pleasure at being returned to office but disappointment with Ishihara's defeat. "I would have liked to have seen Margaret get back in," he said. "She is a tremendous asset."

Looking ahead, Barrett talked of the Prudential Committee's effort "to get into planning further into the future" and said, "I hope that continues."

Ishihara was philosophical about her loss. Connolly "ran a good campaign, and that's the way it turned out," she said.

She quickly added: "I want to thank all the people who supported me. And I look forward to being involved in the district in the future."

The 616-voter turnout was high by Wareham Fire District standards. Clerk and Treasurer Mary Beth Fernandes noted that last year's turnout was 560 "and that was on the high side."

Running unopposed and returned to office were Fernandes for both the clerk and treasurer positions, Edward "Jay" Tamagini III for a three-year term on the Water Commission, and Theodore "Ted" Hatch for a two-year term on the Water Commission.

There were a smattering of write-in votes in all the contests. Melodye Conway, coming off an unsuccessful campaign for Wareham Town Clerk, received a total of 141 votes spread across three offices, Deborah Pfinister 38 across four offices, David Wolton 6 across two offices, and Carol Pierce and Brock Tucy one vote each.