Incumbent Stanley Mickelson will keep his seat on the Select Board, the School Committee will welcome back Carol Karafotis and welcome newcomer Kathleen Amaral, and the Dartmouth Police Department are one step closer to getting new headquarters following Tuesday's annual town election.

Nearly 16 percent of Dartmouth's 22,679 registered voters turned out to the polls on April 4. There, they approved a temporary tax increase to fund the $13.4 million police station with a nearly 68 percent vote.

[Related: Police station funding passes with landslide vote]

“A new facility that's going to take us into the next century, was, in the beginning, really the goal of everybody,” said Police Chief Bob Szala following the elections.

The station, which will replace the Gidley School on Tucker Road, is needed for space, security, improved efficiency, and future growth, according to officials. The police department was moved into modular units after bacteria in the water system at its Russells Mills headquarters made an officer sick.

The proposal will still have to pass at Town Meeting in June before construction can start.

Despite her loss for the Select Board seat, Lorri-Ann Miller celebrated the project’s victory.

"I was really happy to see the police department win. I'd rather have the police department win than me win," she said.

Incumbent Stanley Mickelson kept his Select Board seat with 1,814 votes; Miller took 1,573 votes.

"I knew it would be a close race as soon as it started to rain as it did. That really makes a difference," said Mickelson, who currently chairs the board. "I promise I will do the same job I did the first three years, and maybe just a little bit better."

Mickelson plans to balance future budgets by attracting new businesses to the Faunce Corner Road and Route 6 "L" during his second, three-year term.

During his first three-year stint as Select Board member, Mickelson promoted the solar energy growth and other green initiatives in town, pushed for winter construction on the Padanaram Causeway, and supported a tax break for Dartmouth-based company AHEAD while it expands its manufacturing plant and job opportunities.

"I think I gave him a good race. I only lost by 241 votes, and I'm happy with that," said Miller. "We both, tomorrow morning, will continue serving the town."

Miller said she wasn't sure if she would run again for a Select Board seat, but said she will decide next year. Miller currently serves on the Planning Board; her term ends in 2021.

Voters also elected incumbent Carol Karafotis (2,174 votes) and newcomer Kathleen Amaral (1,798 votes) to the School Committee.

"I’m thrilled to win reelection. I’m excited to be going back to do the best job I possibly can," said Karafotis, who is outfitted with 37 years teaching experience, including tenures as Gidley School and Quinn Elementary principals. She plans to tackle school finances with her next term.

“Patching up” school buildings is not sustainable, she said in a previous interview. Karafotis said she’d also like to see more enrichment programs, which she is confident she can achieve while listening to parents, students, and administrators, like Superintendent Bonny Gifford and Assistant Superintendent Michelle Roy, whom she helped hired.

Amaral, who differentiated herself with her background in advocacy, took the second seat for School Committee over incumbent Chris Garth by 37 votes. Her priorities include ensuring social and emotional learning programs, as well as parent engagement, to further support the district’s strategic plan.

"I'm grateful for the support, and I'm looking forward to getting sworn in and acclimated," she said.

Amaral currently co-chairs the Dartmouth Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), and promotes positive, sustainable lifestyles with Healthy Dartmouth.

Garth, who was unseated despite his 20 years of experience with school departments in both Massachusetts and Virginia, said he was disappointed by the loss, but won't retire from town politics.

"There were three very qualified and very well-liked candidates in the race. I'm proud of the service I gave in the past three years," he said. Garth also said that he will "explore the options" for future races, but would not specify which boards he is eyeing.

Also on the ballot were the following uncontested races: incumbent Robert Michaud took the Assessor seat with 2,405 of 2,405 votes; incumbents Wendy Garf-Lipp and Suzanne E. McDonald were both re-seated on the Library Trustees; incumbent Thomas Hardman received 100 percent of votes for the Board of Health opening; incumbent Joel Avila kept his seat on the Planning Board with 100 percent of votes; and incumbent Sherri Tetrault was re-seated to the Parks and Recreation Board with 2,508 of 2,508 votes.