SEEKONK –– For newly elected Board of Selectmen member Francis Cavaco, the third time really is the charm.

After unsuccessfully running for a spot on the Board of Selectmen earlier this year and in 2007, Cavaco defeated former board member and town Fire Chief David Viera, 703 votes to 372, in last night’s special election. He will fill the position vacated when former Selectman Carol Bragg abruptly resigned more than two months ago, and serve until June 2010, when her term would have ended.

“I wish to thank the town of Seekonk for putting their confidence in me,” the new member said. “There’s a lot of work to be done.” He emphasized his past candidacies for the position on the Board of Selectmen, saying that when one wants something in life, he must try hard to get it.

“Try, try again,” he said, smiling.

Out of 9,190 registered voters in the town, 1,075 came out to vote –– nearly 12 percent. The most voted in Precinct 2, at the Seekonk Public Library, with 352 total voters.

Town Clerk Jan Parker said the election ran smoothly, with polls in Martin Elementary School, the North School, the library, and Town Hall. After the win was shown on the Town Hall television screen, Cavaco, 53, was sworn in by Parker in front of a small group of reporters and residents.

Cavaco, a former Finance Committee member, raised his right hand as Parker read from an excerpt, asking Cavaco if he pledged to serve Seekonk loyally and faithfully, to which he responded, “I do.”

“Cavaco is a viable candidate,” Viera, 57, said after congratulating the winner. “I wish him luck, I really do.” Viera has 4½ years left in his seat on the Planning Board, and said he would consider running for the Board of Selectmen again. He said he was glad the campaign was a “clean one,” and that he has confidence in Cavaco’s leadership.

“I leave this election on a positive note … I’m not going to go away,” he said.

cthompso@projo.com