With three vacant school committee seats open this year, voters on Tuesday sent Democratic incumbent Travis Auty back for another term, with fellow Democrat Megan Gonzalez and Republican Susan Kinnane securing spots on the committee as well.

Barring any last minute changes by the state Board of Elections, the three will join Republican Michael Rocha and Democrat Hannah Ayotte, whose terms were not up this year, solidifying a 3-2 Democratic majority. Out of the running were candidates Mark A. Gleicher, a Democrat, and Republicans Jonathan F. Babbitt and Brandon E. Pineo.

The race still has not been officially called, as there were at least 14 drop box ballots yet to be counted Wednesday afternoon, and possibly some mail ballots that also have not yet been counted by the state. State officials are expected to begin certifying results Thursday.

Gonzalez said she is thrilled to have been named to the committee following a positive Tuesday.

“Throughout the entire day I was at the polls, from quarter of seven until the time we all went into the gym and then up to town hall. It was a really enthusiastic day and we had a good crowd of folks coming and talking with us that were really engaged in what’s happening in town,” she said. “We were passing out egg and sausage sandwiches in the morning, burgers and hot dogs for dinner, and I think what was really nice was to hear from so many people just how positive the Dems ran their campaign, and people were really inspired by that. So it feels good.”

Also appreciative was Kinnane, the lone Republican voted in on Tuesday.

“I’d like to say thank you to everyone who voted for me, and I’m looking forward to serving Little Compton and being there for the parents and helping to make sure their voices are heard,” she said.

While early voting and mail-in ballots favored the Democratic candidates, in-person votes for the Republicans boosted overall vote totals. Kinnane beat out Democratic candidate Mark Gleicher by 82 votes, bringing some balance to a committee that has remained under the control of Democrats and Independents for several years.

When asked how they will put partisan issues aside to focus on the issues at hand, the winners said they are eager to collaborate and work together with the children’s best interests in mind.

“One of my skill sets is definitely bringing people together and being able to work with both sides, and I think that when it comes down to it, we’re talking about the children and the community and it’s something we all have in common that we care very deeply about,” said Gonzalez. “I’m going to stay true to my values and I’m also going to continue to inspire others to do some self-reflection and some education, but working together and bringing people together is definitely a strong suit of mine, and I hope to be able to really do that in this position.”

Kinnane called for increased transparency between the committee, school administration and staff, and parents with regards to policies and decisions. After she attended previous school committee meetings with her husband, she noticed that some parents appeared distressed over decision-making in the school, she said.

“They weren’t validated,” said Kinnane. “They felt like they weren’t heard. I was really heartbroken to watch some of the members of the school committee be completely indifferent as parents were concerned and upset about different things, and trying to express themselves. It was just a ‘Thank you for making your point,’ and the parents were looking for more than that."

"There should be a better way to have an exchange with parents, and we can better serve the needs of the parents by letting their voices be heard, and have them aware of what’s going on behind the scenes if they’re not there every day.”

For her part, Gonzalez said she hopes her presence in the school will bring “a more human touch” to the committee.

“I’m not someone who you just see at monthly meetings, but someone who’s actively involved in the school day and really trying to change that dynamic between family, staff, and teachers and try to be in the grind with it. We need to truly understand what their needs are so we can all just work together to move forward in a positive way.”

Auty was not available for comment at the time of publication.

The unofficial vote totals as of Wednesday afternoon are:

Travis Auty, incumbent (D): 1037 votes (18 percent)

Megan Gonzalez (D): 1028 votes (17.8 percent)

Susan Kinnane (R): 1008 votes (17.4 percent)

Mark Gleicher (D): 926 votes (16 percent)

Jonathan Babbitt (R): 920 votes (15.9 percent)

Brandon Pineo (R): 858 votes (14.9 percent)