The Democrats celebrated a clean sweep in the race for two Barrington Town Council seats on Tuesday night, Nov. 8. 

Kate Berard was the top vote-getter, capturing 4,791 votes (33.3 percent), while Braxton Howard Medlin received 3,748 votes (26.1 percent).

Republican candidates Ray Clark and Jarrod Ryan finished third and fourth, respectively, in the voting. Clark received 3,097 votes (21.6 percent) and Ryan received 2,703 votes (18.8 percent).

When asked for her opinion on why she was able to garner the most votes, Berard said: “I think the voters appreciate a positive outlook and a focus on a broad range of issues that affect our town as a whole.”

Berard spent the bulk of her campaign focused squarely on the town’s infrastructure — improving walkability around Barrington and connectivity. 

Berard said she worked hard to run a positive campaign. She believes that people like to hear what can a candidate can do to improve their community, rather than focusing on what may be wrong or lacking.

Berard said she was very thankful for the support she received — the most humbling was the support she received from people she did not think were following the council race. She mentioned some neighbors who had written her a nice note.

“More people are in tune to this than I anticipated,” she said. 

Berard said she is eager to get to work on the council: “That’s what I’m most excited about. I was not excited about campaigning.”

Berard and Medlin will join three other Democrats on the council: Rob Humm, Annelise Conway and Carl Kustell. 

Berard said that while the town council will remain all-Democrat, that does not mean all councilors think the same or agree entirely on all the issues. 

“I’m hopeful that people will see it less as a divisive thing — that the council is all Democrats, but we don’t vote in lock-step,” she said.