John Alessandro knew he was in trouble on Tuesday afternoon, hours before the final votes for Barrington School Committee were tallied.

As the Republican incumbent stood outside Hampden Meadows School, he heard one voter after another talk about casting their ballots for the Democratic candidates. He said he had also been talking to Republican town council member Stephen Primiano. 

By 8 p.m. on Tuesday night, Mr. Alessandro and Mr. Primiano had both been voted off their respective boards.

"The 'Blue Wave' came and took us all out," said Mr. Alessandro, referring to the Democrats' clean sweep in local races. 

"They painted me the way they painted me, and there was no way for me to stop that."

Mr. Alessandro has served four years on the Barrington School Committee and said he has enjoyed the experience. During his tenure, the committee helped bring a new middle school to town and negotiated a new contract with the teachers union. 

"It was a great learning experience," he said. 

Mr. Alessandro's defeat will result in an all-Democrat school committee. 

Mr. Alessandro said he is not too concerned with the fact that one political party will dominate the school committee for at least the next two years. He said he is more worried that nearly all the committee members live in only one section of town — Nayatt — and that most of them are relative newcomers to Barrington.

Mr. Alessandro, who grew up in Barrington and attended local schools, pointed to a recent experience he had where lack of institutional knowledge of the committee could be seen as a detriment. 

He said he had asked the school committee do something to acknowledge the passing of longtime Barrington teacher and coach John Signore. Mr. Alessandro had had Mr. Signore as a coach for indoor and outdoor track at Barrington High School years ago and knew the great impact that Mr. Signore had on thousands of students and student-athletes.

The other committee members didn't know who he was, said Mr. Alessandro. 

"I wanted to put it on the agenda to give the man his due," he added.

Mr. Alessandro said other small issues, such as preserving the concrete "cheese" climbing structure at Primrose High School's playground was important to folks who grew up in town, but likely held little meaning to committee members who were new to Barrington.

"You gotta have the cheese," he added.

Mr. Alessandro said he heard from many people following his loss on election night — they said they were sad he did not retain his seat and appreciated his four years of service to the district. 

"I did the best job I could. I showed up, did all the trainings and the meetings," he said.

Mr. Alessandro said he plans on refocusing on his work in the future and spending more time with his children. He said his oldest son, Henry, talked to him after the election results were official on Tuesday night. 

He said that Henry was sorry his dad lost, but added that he was happy he would get see him more.