Seils, who ran unopposed, earned 230 out of 261 total votes cast during Tuesday’s election, not including early voting. Only 31 votes, or 12 percent, were cast for write-in candidates.

The 264-person voter turnout was 1.7 percent of the 15,647 registered voters in Carrboro.

Seils, first vice chairman on the Planning Board, will replace former Alderman Dan Colman, who resigned in December to move with his family to Melbourne, Australia where his wife accepted a teaching position.

Seils works as a health services researcher for Duke University.

The board voted to hold the special election, instead of waiting until the municipal elections in November. The special election will cost the town about $12,000.

After Coleman’s controversial appointment to the board in 2006, the board amended the town charter to require a special election to fill vacancies when there is a year or more remaining on the departing member’s term.

But the board recently asked the N.C. General Assembly for permission to amend the charter again. This change would give the board the option to fill vacancies by appointment or special election.