Despite his loss to incumbent First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons (D) for the town’s top spot, Republican Selectman Bruce Wilson is looking forward to working with the Board of Selectman to move a number of long-standing projects forward.

Most of the issues that this race centered on were local, and seemingly very few of the national issues that became a focus for other area towns became a factor Madison’s race. Wilson said the results of the election made it clear the direction the town wants to take.

“I think we were hoping for a larger turnout. We knew that the absentee ballot, the new system was going to change the way people voted. We thought we had come up with a strategy that would encourage people to get out,” said Wilson. “In the end, we didn’t get that many people to turn out. We thought we had a good strategy and a good message. We were very careful to stick to the issues that we thought were important to the town, but in the end Peggy’s message resonated with voters more than mine. It’s that simple.

“We have a highly educated population here, we always have,” he continued. “I like to believe that the voters are thoughtful and are not letting their national political views skew their local decision-making in a town the size of Madison.”

Wilson said he is excited about getting some of the long-delayed projects back on track and completed. Both Wilson and Lyons are focused on the same issues: the Academy Building, the fate of the Island School and the current school renewal plan proposal. Both seem hopeful that the current term will allow for a positive and speedy resolution to some of these issues.

“The Academy referendum is extremely important. That has a lot of work to do and I want to make sure we don’t gloss over important information for voters, so that voters have everything they need to make an informed decision on these projects,” Wilson said. “We want residents…to have the right information and the complete information, but there is still a lot of work, and not a lot of time.”

Wilson also highlighted several other issues that he would like to see come before the board in the coming term.

“One of the interesting things, and one of the fortunate things with a two-year term, is that candidates have to go out and connect with voters and residents. When you do that, you get to hear in the first person what is in the mind of residents,” said Wilson. “I heard about a number of things that are important. Regardless of who is in charge it is our job to respond to these.

“The priority for me is to absolutely continue the conversation on the flood plain ordinance, which continues to linger in limbo with no decision one way or another,” he continued. “That’s causing homeowners to defer or completely abandoned planned renovations and more importantly planned maintenance because they don’t know how it’s going to impact them financially.”

Wilson also said he had learned a great deal from constituents during his door-knocking campaign. The recent controversy over short-term rentals is one of those issues.

“The issue of short-term rentals was a new one for me in the campaign. I didn’t know how concerned residents are, especially on the immediate shoreline. We need to come up with a comprehensive policy in town on how short-term rentals should be regulated, or not. I was surprised that this was such an issue, but so under the radar for the Board of Selectman,” said Wilson. “I think that if we can all stay reasonable in the discussion, that we can find a reasonable solution that works for everybody. And I have every faith that we will be able to do that, but the Board of Selectman is going to have to pick up the conversation and actually deal with it.”

For his part, Wilson said he has always worked well with members from across the aisle and didn’t see any reason for that to change. According to Wilson, disagreements on the board more often than not stem from the process rather than on policy or projects.

“Certainly, from my perspective, I do not have any animosity or ill feelings. I still insist that I am the better candidate and better suited for the job, but the people have spoken and they chose Peggy,” Wilson said. “That is the bargain you strike when you seek this type of community service. I don’t see the rules have changed. Therefore, my commitment hasn’t changed and my perspective hasn’t changed. My interest is doing the best possible job for taxpayers that we can.”