GREENFIELD — The city’s public schools were closed Tuesday as the high school became the sole polling location for Election Day voters looking to have their voices heard regarding who should lead the city.

Sign-wielding residents lined Kent Avenue and the sidewalks near the school as candidates and their supporters made last-ditch efforts to appeal to the public. Races for School Committee, City Council and Board of Assessors were on the ballot, but most voters were focused on the mayoral race between incumbent Roxann Wedegartner and City Councilor Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher, who defeated Wedegartner in Tuesday’s contest.

Ellen Villani said she voted for DeSorgher due to her discontent with Wedegartner’s handling of the situation involving former Greenfield Police Officer Patrick Buchanan. Wedegartner and Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. appealed a Hampshire County Superior Court civil jury verdict in May 2022 that found Haigh and the Greenfield Police Department had racially discriminated against Buchanan when he was denied promotions in 2014 and 2020. The jury found Buchanan had been “discriminated against or retaliated against” in connection with the promotional process.

“This is hearkening back to when I was first able to vote, in 1980. When it was kind of the good ol’ boys and, unfortunately, it’s starting to feel very divisive again and sort of almost mirroring what’s happening nationally,” Villani said.

She also said Wedegartner should have better supported businesses that wanted to keep the mask mandate during the pandemic.

“I don’t think the mayor handled COVID well. I don’t think she backed up the Board of Health always. I think the Board of Health was kind of under the gun and people were pushing back to the Board of Health,” Villani said. “I don’t have any feelings of hatred or anything, I just think we need a change that’s more geared toward more middle- and lower-(income) people. I think you can take the mayor out of Texas, but I’m not sure you can take the Texas out of the mayor.”

The Buchanan issue was also important to Linda Blake, who also voted for DeSorgher.

“She has been very personable and has met with people. I think she’s really put in a lot of effort. She’s done a lot of good in the town,” Blake said after voting. “She’s just a person that listens to people.”

Blake said she makes a point to vote in every election because it is her civic responsibility and she wants her voice to be heard.

Sporting her Wedegartner T-shirt and campaign button, Kate Hunter spent most of the day holding a couple of signs in support of the current mayor and waving to passing motorists.

“I’m out here because I really believe in Roxann,” she said. “I think Roxann has done an amazing job as mayor so far and I think that she has so much more to do, so many more ideas, so many things that she’s planning to do. I really want her to be able to finish some of the stuff that she’s started and some of the things that I know she … is planning on doing. I think she’s got the experience.

“Ginny’s a nice person but I do not believe she has what it takes to be the mayor of Greenfield,” she added.

Hunter said she likes Wedegartner’s downtown development efforts and appreciates the COVID-19 clinic the mayor set up during the pandemic. She is also impressed that the mayor has endorsements from Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey.

Resident Ruth Witty was less enthusiastic, but said she also voted for Wedegartner.

“I don’t know much about the other person,” Witty said after casting her ballot. “[Wedegartner is] doing an OK job, in my opinion.”

Alex Gottschalk noted he never fails to get to the polls.

“It’s a privilege,” he said. “And, actually, my grandfather was not allowed to vote because he was Jewish. This was … in Nazi Germany. So sort of in honor to him I always vote, but I would have voted anyway.”

Gottschalk said he voted for DeSorgher.

“I don’t have anything against Roxann. I think she’s done a pretty good job, but I think it’s always good to sort of keep it moving.”

Reach Domenic Poli at dpoli@recorder.com or 4 13-930-4120.