Johnson & Mills Win Selectmen Race

Robert Johnson and Leonard Mills were elected to fill two vacancies on the Rehoboth Board of Selectmen. The turnout for Saturday’s special election was low, with only 879, or 8.84 percent, of the town’s 9,940 eligible voters casting ballots at Francis Farm.

Johnson was the top vote getter with 622. Mills came in second with 511. The other candidates were Craig Chapman, a former member of the Dighton-Rehoboth School Committee, and political newcomer Kevin Foley. Chapman won 258 votes and Foley won 266.

Joseph Albert Nunes was elected to serve as Stormwater Officer. Nunes had no opposition.

Mills, a member of the Planning Board and Gravel Committee, pledged to bring “respectability” back to the town’s Highway Department. "As a member of the Selectmen, I’m going to be listening to the facts and making decisions based on what is good for the town of Rehoboth,” said Johnson, who serves as Tree Warden and Animal Control Officer.

Selectman Michael Deignan said Mills and Johnson were “two great men of impeccable character who will be a tremendous asset to the Board of Selectmen and the Town of Rehoboth.”

“Congratulations to Johnson and Mills on their election to the Board of Selectmen,” said Paul Jacques, Chairman of the Rehoboth Democratic committee. “We have such a great town full of incredible residents that both newly elected and current selectmen will proudly represent.”  

Mills and Johnson are filling vacancies left by Dave Perry and Jim Muri, who resigned from the board last March because of what they considered to be unfair treatment of former Highway Superintendent Michael Costello, who was fired. Costello had been the subject of complaints filed by an employee of the Highway department.

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