NORTON -- Eight votes put Selectman Bob Salvo out of office on Tuesday, but the incumbent said he was certain there was a much larger issue behind his loss to two first-time candidates in the annual town election.

`` A turnover like that on a board doesn't just happen,'' Salvo said after the election. `` I didn't support the override; it's cut and dry.''

Voter turnout was 17.6 percent, with 1,848 voters casting ballots out of 10,479 registered voters in town.

Political newcomer Timothy Giblin topped the ballot in the selectmen's race with 1,104 votes. Stephen Gradie, a school custodian, bested Salvo with 868 votes to the incumbent's 860.

Giblin and Gradie both publicly supported the proposed Proposition 2 1/sub 2 over ride that would mostly benefit the school department and is up for vote at May's annual town meeting. A recount is certain.

Salvo said he will file for it today with the town clerk's office, though he doesn't know how long the process might take.

What Salvo does know is that he won't be sitting at the selectmen's table on Thursday night during the board's weekly meeting, and that there will be two new faces joining last year's surprise victor and the two other board members.

`` I'm really not bitter,'' Salvo said. `` I gave it my best. I really thought I was going to win it.''

For the second year in a row, a political newcomer ousted a strong veteran board member.

Incumbent Jim Brown was knocked out last year by school activist Mary Steele.

And for the second time, many observers attribute the upset, at least in part, to aggressive campaigning by organized parent groups.

Giblin, who has children at the high school and J.C. Solmonese School, said he received a lot of support from the schools.

`` A lot of people were very positive (for me), and it was a lot of people doing a lot of hard work,'' he said. `` I'm pretty proud, and definitely excited.''

As surprised as Salvo was with his loss, Gradie was equally taken aback by his win. For most of the evening, it looked like Salvo was ahead. But when results from the last two precincts -- Precincts 1 and 2 -- came in, Gradie picked up enough votes to put him on the board.

`` I was behind, and thought I was out of it,'' Gradie said. `` The only thing I figure is that people who live in those precincts knew me.''

Just how much the impending override vote influenced voters decisions on Tuesday depended on who was asked.

Many voters leaving the polls said it was only a marginal factor in their decisions.

But some town officials thought it was perhaps the thing that mattered most, and was indicative of a new trend among residents.

`` Incumbents like Salvo and myself will have to pay attention,'' Selectmen Chairman Bob Kimball said. `` Change is always good, and we all have our day. We'll see how this all turns out.''