South Bristol voters will be called on to settle the race for one Board of Selectmen seat after a recount at the town office Monday night determined that long time incumbent Donald G. Stanley Jr. and former selectmen Kenneth D. Lincoln received 51 votes apiece for the honor.
One vote separated Stanley and Lincoln, a write-in candidate, after the polls closed March 9. Moderator Kenneth Maguire reported Stanley received 51 votes to Lincoln’s 50 at the time.
After a recount revealed the two candidates locked in a tie with 51 votes, town officials called for a special town meeting election March 31 to decide the winner.
The special town meeting will open at 12:45 p.m. to choose a moderator. Voting begins at 1 p.m. at the South Bristol School, and ends at 7 p.m.
The preliminary results of the election were announced during the annual South Bristol town meeting on March 10.
The two candidates held a ballot inspection at the South Bristol Town Office at 1 p.m. on March 13. When the town meeting reconvened at 2 p.m. March 13, the candidates decided to recount the ballots on March 16.
The recount was held in the meeting room at the town office at 6 p.m. with the selectmen and South Bristol Town Clerk Mary Jane McLoon in attendance.
One ballot was not marked with a choice for selectman, only school board candidates Tim Dinsmore and Trudy Gamage. That ballot was ruled void in the election for selectmen, but all other choices held.
In the original count, one ballot was overlooked. That ballot was taken into account in the recount March 16.
Because of the tight race, the candidates were reluctant to make statements, however moderator Maguire said, “The last time there was a recount, was before my 30 years as moderator. This is the closest selection in South Bristol, at one vote apart.”
