Glenn Morrill wins Franklin mayoral race, two incumbents lose seats on city council

In the middle of a dark and quiet street in Franklin on Tuesday evening, fairy lights and bright conversation beamed from Glenn Morrill’s home.

The mayoral candidate held a celebration right as the polls closed in Franklin at 7 p.m., where over 50 people gathered in his barn to enjoy pizza and drinks. Everyone cheered and reveled in Morrill’s victories in each ward as they were announced throughout the night.

One of the happiest people in the room was his sister Allison Cross, jumping and boasting about her brother’s win.

“He wants to bring Franklin back,” she said.

In Franklin’s municipal election, Morrill gathered a vast majority of votes in all three wards over incumbent Desiree McLaughlin. The election also saw an uptick in voters at the polls, with at least 100 more people voting in each ward compared to last year.

Morrill is a lifelong resident of Franklin and is best known for helping maintain the flower beds in kayaks placed around the city. He is a staunch advocate for local recreation as well as supporting capital projects such as Soldiers Memorial Hall — even if it means adjusting Franklin’s tax cap.

Benjamin Forge beat out incumbent Bruce Marshall for city councilor in Ward 1. Sam Jacobson won the Ward 2 seat against Glen Feener, also an incumbent. Justine Hoppe will now represent Ward 3, beating out Lillian Machos and Bradley Camley for a seat on the nine-member City Council.

On the school board, Jack Finley will serve another three years representing Ward 1. He was a part of the only contested race on the board, against John Demakowski. Running unopposed, Adam Heath of Ward 2 and Ruth MaGina of Ward 3 will each be on the board for three years. Kayla Morse of Ward 1 will serve a two-year term.

Scott Burns grew up in Franklin, was active in local and state government and currently helps with the ski school at Veterans Memorial Recreation Area. He said he wants new ideas and faces to come to the table, especially concerning capital improvements.

“There’s a lot of negativity on the other side, which I think pushed everyone else to come for [Morrill],” he said. “We need positivity in our lives, and we need to move forward.”

Throughout the day, candidates and supporters stood outside polling locations to have conversations with voters. Bob Lucas joined Forge and others outside of Ward 1.

Lucas’s most top-of-mind issue is to find funding for projects as large as the renovations of Soldiers Memorial Hall and as fundamental as paving the roads.

“We’ve got a punch list that we’ve been somewhat slow in resolving,” he said. “If you were to ask me, I think I’d like to just see us take on some of these issues in a more robust manner and get the ball rolling on things.”

Josh Marshwood, a voter in Ward 2, moved to Franklin three years ago to be closer to the recreational activities the city has to offer. He said, although he voted for Morrill because of his distaste to current leadership, he was not clear on what Morrill stood for.

“I told Glenn, ‘I really need more from you as well in terms of how you want to be carrying out your policies,'” he recalled. “And I said, ‘my big criticism for you, Glenn, is that you are being very general with where you want to bring things right now.”

Approaching the end of the night, Morrill was surrounded by dozens of family members, friends and residents that came out to celebrate his victory. Attendees shouted for him to give a speech — and he got on the same “soap” box he used to announce his candidacy.

“The citizens of Franklin got out to vote today to see a positive change in this community, and every one of you helped with that,” he said. “We are all together going to work as a team and make Franklin a great place to come visit, to live, to enjoy the recreation and everything we have to offer.”

The new mayor, city council and school board will assume their roles in December. 

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