Boutin, Godin, Parizo win in Grand Isle town races

​By MIKE DONOGHUE
Islander Staff Writer

GRAND ISLE -- Town Clerk and Treasurer Melissa Boutin held off her former assistant Linda Effel for both posts during Town Meeting voting, while Jeff Parizo defeated Rachael Griggs 456-348 in a race between incumbents on the Selectboard.

Eric Godin defeated Ronnie Bushway in a battle of former selectboard members seeking to return to the board for a 3-year term.  Godin won 478-342.

In the race for treasurer, Boutin nipped Effel 428-408 for a 3-year seat.  It was unknown late Tuesday if Effel would seek a recount.

Boutin had a little more breathing space in the race for town clerk with a 455-380 edge over Effel, a former Grand Isle County State's Attorney and Zoning Administrator.

Grand Isle Town Meeting Day was more active this year for a combination of reasons.  The Selectboard meetings have become somewhat contentious in recent months.  Also Effel stepped down as Boutin's assistant on the day she filed to run for office to challenge her boss for both jobs.
 
Griggs, who is finishing her first 3-year term and is board clerk, opted not to seek another 3-year term.  Instead she decided to challenge Parizo, the vice chairman, who was seeking his third two-year term.  That opened up the Bushway-Godin race for the seat Griggs held.

The town reported 849 residents voted, including 711 by early balloting, out of 1,654 on the town checklist

All special ballot items, including town budgets were approved by voters by wide margins.

The Islander, which went to press this week before the polls closed, will have more details in next week's print edition.

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