Gifford wins Brooksville seat, with strong turnout in contested race

Voters also approve $25k in GSA supplemental tuition by 2-1 margin

March 4, 2026

By John Epstein

Linda Gifford, Brooksville’s newest select board member. She defeated challenger Shawn Duffy by a 204-91 vote. File photo.

Just over 306 registered voters cast ballots in Brooksville’s 2026 town elections held on March 2.  The turnout was double of the town’s 2025 election.

“I’m sure there was a better turnout due to the select board race,” said Amber Bakeman, Brooksville’s town clerk.

For the first time in nearly 40 years town voters had a choice on the ballot for a select board seat.  Linda Gifford won the contest with 204 votes, or 69% of the ballots cast.  Her opponent, Shawn Duffy garnered 91 votes.

“I feel good about the results,” said Gifford, who will serve a three-year term.  “I’m humbled and pleased that people had confidence in me and I thank them, and I hope to earn the respect and trust of those who didn’t vote for me,” she added.

In the race for school board, two incumbents, Samuel Vaughan and Ann Silver, were elected to three-year terms by wide margins, fending off write-in challenges by Lindsay MacDonald and Meaghan Allen. Matthew Freedman and John Kimball, unopposed for budget and advisory committee, were both re-elected to three-year terms. 

Several unchallenged incumbents were re-elected to one-year terms.  They included: Freida Peasley, treasurer; Yvonne Redman, tax collector; Amber Bakeman, Town Clerk; and Matthew Dow, fire chief.

Darcy Snow and Philip Wessel, both incumbents, were re-elected to the planning board.

In addition, by a 2 to 1 margin, Brooksville voters approved a single $24,480 referendum item that commits an extra $1,530 in tuition for each of the 14 out of 24 Brooksville high school students who have chosen to attend George Stevens Academy.