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11/16/2023 09:32 AMA recount held on Nov. 12 to determine who would take the last seat on the police commission showed that Bruce Farmer took more votes than David Carroll. A planned recount for the last seat on the Town Council was not held as Carol Walter recused herself from consideration, meaning Dennis Donovan will be seated.
As the results were read on election night, Democratic Registrar of Voters June Hansen noted that two races were within the 20-vote threshold that, by state statute, requires a recount. One was the race between Republicans Farmer and Carroll for the last spot on the Board of Police Commissioners, and the other was the race between Republicans Walter and Donovan for the last seat on the Town Council.
Preliminary results from election night showed that Farmer earned 1,587 votes compared to 1,568 votes for Carroll. At the recount, the totals shifted slightly to 1,593 votes for Farmer and 1,571 votes for Carroll.
Hansen explained that the difference in the vote total came down to hand counts that can pick up some discrepancies that the voting machines won’t. Hansen said that the machines will not necessarily recognize every mark voters make when filling out their ballots, but a hand count will. The changed votes represent 0.001 of all votes cast in the election.
While recounts are rare in elections, it was nothing new for Farmer. The last time there was a recount in Clinton was in 2015 in the race for first selectman between Farmer and Willie Fritz. After preliminary results showed a tie between the two candidates on Election Day, a recount showed Farmer won by a single vote. Farmer served as first selectman from 2015-2017.
Though there was supposed to be a recount between Donovan and Walter for the last seat on the Town Council, three days prior to the recount, Walter announced on social media that she had asked the town clerk not to consider her for the recount.
“I accept the results and will leave gracefully and grateful for having been able to serve you with integrity and honor all these years. Love to one and all,” Walter’s post said in part.
Preliminary results from election night showed that Donovan had a 10-vote lead of 1,658 to 1,648 votes.
“Thank you, one and all, who took the time to come out and vote on Tuesday, and I’d like to particularly thank those who cast a ballot for me. The outcome was not what I hoped it would be, but I have no regrets or hard feelings or anything but congratulations for those that succeeded in their campaigns,” Walter said in her statement.
“I had a 14-year run, which in anyone’s book is a good one. I worked with more than 20 different individuals on the Board of Selectmen and the Town Council, and there were very few that I couldn’t strike an accord with. It has been a huge honor and pleasure to serve Clinton. I led with my heart, and I never forgot that I was representing people that couldn’t speak for themselves. My love for Clinton is as great as ever, and thank you to those who will continue to serve. I wish you nothing but the best,” Walter continued.
On Election Day, voters elected Republican incumbent Chris Aniskovich (1,941 votes), Democratic incumbent Hank Teskey (1,829 votes), Democratic newcomer Brian Roccapriore (1,829 votes), and Donovan (1,658 votes) to the Town Council. The win by both Democrats flipped the council from a Republican majority to a Democrat majority.
All four elected will serve a four-year term. They will join Republican Tom Hollinger as well as Democrats Carrie Allen and Chris Passante on the Town Council for at least the next two years.
Hansen said that despite tying, Roccapriore and Teskey did not need a recount since they had enough votes that they would be seated no matter what. All candidates will have their terms start on Nov. 21.