Titus takes Nahant selectmen seat

NAHANT – This was the first time in Nahant history that two women have run for a seat on the Board of Selectmen.Jennifer McCarthy and Lainey Titus went head-to-head Tuesday in a hotly contested race to fill the seat left vacant when Robert Frary resigned earlier this year.Titus took the seat by a margin of 802 votes to 636 for McCarthy. A huge turnout of 57 percent (1,455) of the town’s 2,531 registered voters went to the polls with 12 casting blank ballots and five write-in votes.Both candidates are lifelong residents of Nahant. Titus served as chief of staff to Rep. Steve Walsh (D-Lynn) for seven years. Titus received her Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the McCormack Institute at UMass Boston. She served on Nahant’s 150th Anniversary Committee and the Memorial Day Parade Committee.Titus, who was celebrating at the Nahant Country Club with family and friends after the results were announced, was elated.”It’s just overwhelming right now,” she said. “It was so amazing to get the support of so many people. I loved getting out and meeting new people and talking to them about issues during the campaign. I’m anxious to get down to work.The voting machine broke down Tuesday morning and was out of commission much of the day so many of the ballots had to be counted by hand, Candidates were at Town Hall waiting for results until well after 9 p.m., which Titus added was a little nerve wracking.”It was old school,” she said. “I remember as a little girl standing in front of the window at Town Hall and looking in watching votes being counted.”McCarthy, who resides in town with her husband Scott and their daughter Rachel, is a school teacher in Lynn and has been active in the Nahant community for years. She has served on multiple town committees, including on the Recreation Commission for 17 years and the Fireworks Committee for 10 years.”I want to thank my supporters and everyone who voted for me,” McCarthy said. “I will continue working for the town like I have the past 17 years. I will continue serving on the various boards and committees I am on.”For complete election coverage, visit www.itemlive.com/elections.