Claire Smith credited her dedicated, inspiring...and demanding committee with her election win over long-term Town Moderator John Donahue. Smith carried every precinct to defeat Donahue 2,265 to 1,669 on Tuesday night, concluding a long and hard-fought campaign.

"I'm tired," Smith said, as she greeted supporters at Salerno's function room in Onset Tuesday night. "We really worked hard. I had a great campaign committee that kept pushing me to go out there, and it paid off."

Although Smith said that she has been approached many times over the years to run for political office, she always politely declined. This year, however, Smith said that Town Meeting faces several challenges. Most notably, the Charter Review Committee is recommending that the town replace the volunteer board of selectmen and Town Meeting with a mayor and town council.

Smith describes herself as a "town meeting junkie," and her detailed notes on warrant amendments and discussions on Town Meeting floor are somewhat legend.

"I've lived through a generation where town meeting worked and still believe it can," Smith said. "Many good people who believe in Town Meeting have lost their desire to participate, and I will work diligently to restore confidence that Town Meeting can work."

John Donahue said after the election that he was disappointed, but impressed with the voter turnout. He said it reflected a positive sense of civic engagement.

One of the focuses of Donahue's campaign was the improvements, particularly in technology, that he had incorporated at Town Meeting. He hoped that these could continue to assist make Town Meeting function smoothly.

Smith said she plans to meet with the Finance Committee and Town Administrator Mark Andrews to go over the articles on the warrant. During the campaign, she had proposed a public pre-Town Meeting to go over the articles so that voters would be better prepared when it came time to vote. She said she would review all the parliamentary procedures and prepare for the April 26 event.

Smith said that there has also been a lack of respect and civility at recent Town Meetings that unnecessarily causes conflict in the town.

"It divides the town when other opinions cannot be heard," Smith said. "We should all hear others' thoughts - sometimes a differing opinion can change your mind. There's no reason why we can't disagree and still respect each other."