HANOVER - May 16, 2026 - Hanover voters turned out to pass a critical debt exclusion measure for the new South Shore Vocational Technical High School building and overwhelmingly favored incumbents in the town’s contested School Committee race. According to unofficial town election results released Saturday evening, political newcomer Jason Factor also secured a decisive victory over veteran public servant Viola Ryerson for a three-year seat on the Board of Assessors. Total voter turnout stood at 10.37%, with 1,253 ballots cast out of 12,078 registered voters.
The Full Story
The definitive headline of the evening belongs to Question One, which requested a debt exclusion from Proposition 2 1/2 to fund Hanover’s proportional share of designing and constructing a new South Shore Vocational Technical High School building. The ballot measure passed with a robust 64.96% approval, garnering 814 “Yes” votes against 359 “No” votes.
During the pre-election candidate forum, Select Board candidate James Hoyes clarified that excluding this debt prevents the high-profile regional school build from cannibalizing town departments or forcing painful cuts within the standard general operating budget limit. Although funding demands for the project will step up significantly when 30-year bond servicing begins in fiscal year 2029, town officials emphasized that concurrent drop-offs in existing town debt will heavily mitigate the real-world tax impact on local households.
“A vote yes means it’s a debt exclusion. A vote no means it would be folded into the operating budget. And therefore would lead to... the likelihood that you would face an override down the road, not for fiscal year 27, 28 or 29, but in those outer years.” [01:15:06] — James Edward Hoyes
In the high-stakes, three-way race for two open seats on the Hanover School Committee, voters ultimately opted for continuity. Incumbent Chairman Peter Miraglia led the field with 717 votes (28.61%), followed closely by fellow incumbent Jaclyn Jorgenson, who secured 677 votes (27.02%). Challenger Hanley Scott fell short of a seat on the committee, capturing 547 votes (21.83%).
The race for the Board of Assessors provided the most significant shake-up of the night. Jason Factor, a professional mortgage lender who heavily campaigned on improving public communication and data transparency, won a commanding 63.37% of the vote (794 votes). He easily defeated former nine-year selectwoman Viola Ryerson, who finished with 384 votes (30.65%).
A slate of uncontested town leaders formally solidified their return to office, including James Hoyes (926 votes) and Vanessa O’Connor (770 votes) for the Select Board, Town Moderator Douglas Thomson (971 votes), Planning Board member David Traggorth (930 votes), Board of Health member Diane Sawin (898 votes), and Library Trustee Pimhatai Koslowsky (975 votes).
Official Minutes & Data
Key Ballot Measures & Election Results
Question One (Vo-Tech Debt Exclusion)
Outcome: Passed
Vote: 814 YES to 359 NO (80 blank votes)
Board of Assessors (Vote for One - 3 Year Term)
Candidates: Jason Factor (794 votes / 63.37%) | Viola Anne Ryerson (384 votes / 30.65%)
Outcome: Jason Factor elected
School Committee (Vote for Two - 3 Year Term)
Candidates: Peter Q. Miraglia (717 votes / 28.61%) | Jaclyn Accomando Jorgenson (677 votes / 27.02%) | Hanley Louise Scott (547 votes / 21.83%)
Outcome: Miraglia and Jorgenson re-elected
Select Board (Vote for Two - 3 Year Term)
Candidates: James Edward Hoyes (926 votes / 36.95%) | Vanessa Achille O’Connor (770 votes / 30.73%)
Outcome: Hoyes and O’Connor elected unopposed
Source Video: Hanover Cable TV Candidate Forum & Town Clerk Certified Unofficial Election Returns