It was a ho-hum Election Day in Mercer County, with unofficial results putting the turnout at a mere 24 percent. A couple of minor problems with voting machines were reported but did not impact results.

Following are stories about major contested races in the Mercer County area:

BROOKFIELD: Voters defeat Pasquerilla family’s school board bid

Brookfield Township voters overwhelmingly rejected a controversial school board member and his wife and daughter on Tuesday.

Joseph Pasquerilla received by far the most votes of any of the candidates for school board four years ago. This year it was the other way around, according to unofficial results. He and his wife and daughter, Ann and Rachel, were beaten by incumbent board member Kelly Carrier-Bianco, former board member Ronda Bonekovic and newcomer Gwen Martino in what could be called a landslide.

Pasquerilla polled 543 votes, his wife, Ann, 428, and his daughter, 457.

Mrs. Carrier-Bianco garnered 2008 votes, Mrs. Bonekovic came in second with 1695, and Mrs. Martino was third with 1663.

Unofficial results posted at the precincts do not include absentee ballots and early voting results.

Mrs. Bonekovic and Mrs. Martino will replace Pasquerilla and Dean Fisher who had usually voted with Pasquerilla and did not run for re-election.

Pasquerilla ran on a platform of controlling costs, and voted “no” and abstained more than any other board member during his tenure.

He was accused of stone-walling on a contract with Brookfield Federation. The contract was eventually negotiated with the teachers giving some concessions on salaries and benefits. BFT members gave Mrs. Carrier-Bianco much of the credit for the final contract.

Pasquerilla was a key figure in the passage of a bond issue which provided Brookfield’s share of the cost for a new K-12 school building.

“The voters decided to go in a different direction. We accept that and understand that, and we hope the district flourishes in the future,” Joe Pasquerilla said on behalf of himself and his wife and daughter.

“It feels like we can start moving in a new direction,” Mrs. Bonekovic said. “The people of Brookfield have spoken, and we’re thrilled.”