GUILDERLAND — Laurel Bohl, a newcomer to politics and formerly the head of a grassroots group critical of the pace of large-scale development in Guilderland, was elected to the town board Tuesday night. 

“I’m looking forward to getting to work. I’m looking forward to working with the people on the town board directly, not from the other side,” said Bohl, at the Orchard Tavern West in Star Plaza, where the Democrats had gathered on Election Night. 

Bohl had been the head of the Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth, but stepped down after joining the ticket at the Democratic caucus in April. 

It was a race among three candidates for two seats. 

Bohl, an attorney, unseated incumbent Lee Carman, who had been the lone Republican on the board. 

Carman told The Enterprise, “It was an honor to represent the town I grew up in as a three-term Albany County Legislator and for the last four years on the town board.” He added, “I thank all of my supporters for the opportunity. 

The unofficial results posted on the website of the Albany County Board of Elections after midnight Tuesday night showed 6,163, or 44.06 percent, for Centi, followed by 4,169, or 29.80 percent, for Bohl, and 3,613, or 25.83 for Carman. 

This will be Centi’s second term on the board. She formerly spent 13 years as the town clerk. 

Bohl added that it was a victory not only for her, but for the residents. 

“It was a team effort,” Bohl said. “I’m a newbie. I rely on people who have the same passion and who could help me out in a lot of ways.” 

She said she looks forward to putting some of her ideas into practice, and noted that most of her ideas are from residents. 

In the town’s only other contested race — for one of Guilderland’s three town-justice slots — incumbent Democrat John Bailey beat back a challenge from Republican Stephen Chesley. 

Bailey, an attorney in private practice, has been a town justice in Guilderland since 2004. 

Bailey got close to 69 percent of the vote to Chesley’s 31 percent.

Chesley told The Enterprise, “I knew going into this I was facing an uphill battle. While I wanted to do better, I’m still happy to have connected with a significant amount of voters.”

Democratic incumbent Supervisor Peter Barber was unopposed, as was Highway Superintendent Greg wier.

Voters overwhelmingly approved a proposition to have Democrat Lynne Buchanan, unopposed for town clerk, also serve as receiver of taxes, a position she had held previously. Buchanan had proposed the merger.