ADAMS, Mass. — Voters picked newcomers over veteran members in select board races in both Adams and Cheshire on Monday.

 

Kelly Rice decisively beat three-term incumbent Christine Hoyt in Adams and Scott McWhirt led a successful write-in vote against formr Cheshire board member Mark Biagini, winning 190-162.

 

Rice is a newcomer to the Board of Selectmen but not to Town Hall. She was treasurer for 12 years before retiring as of Monday, and as an administrative assistant in town departments for 14 years previously.  

 

'I'm excited. Can't wait. My first meeting will be Wednesday," she said after results were read at the Memorial Building.

 

When asked what she would like to see the board do, Rice said she wanted to get in first and see what happens. However, one thing she'd like to see is "reorganizing the board of how they pick chairman and vice chairman."

 

Hoyt was disappointed but sanguine about the results. 

 

"It's the will of the voters, so I do respect that, and I wish Kelly well," she said. "I still love this town, Pete and I have lived here for 20 years. It is the place we chose to call home, and I'm always going to be rooting for it, so hoping that it's in good hands with the Board of Selectmen."