Hangin' chads in Gilford... Recount Thursday!
For those of you wondering what's up with the tie for the third position on the budget committee, here's the scoop:
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State law mandates someone must be declared the winner before a recount can be triggered. This is done by luck of the draw. Both Terry Stewart's and Dale Dormody's names were placed in a bag and drawn by the Town Clerk. This was done and Mr. Dormody "won." This then allowed a recount to be called for, which has been done.
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Thursday March 22nd, starting at 2PM in the Town Hall cafeteria, all ballots cast-- 1988 (?) 1989(?)-- will be recounted by hand. Those doing the counting will be the Selectmen and Town Clerk, with the Moderator, Peter Millham, in charge. Counting will be done in portions of 25 ballots at a time. For questionable ones, he will determine "the intent of the voter." When finished, whatever the count, it is final. If it remains tied, Dormody will get the seat by virtue of last week's draw.
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That's the news part. Here's my prediction: The vote tally will change. Further, I think we will see a swing of two to eight votes. The reason is that during the original voting day, the machine will "kick out" ballots with write-ins, being unable to read names, just the ovals. These all get tallied by people who, by the time it's time to count, have already worked some twelve or more hours. Undoubtably that's one area with the potential for honest mistakes.
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Additionally, the optical reader might miss some votes if the voter circled or "X'd" names instead of coloring the ovals, yet not kick it out for manual counting. This is where Moderator Millham will discern voter intent. This could make vote totals for either candidate grow.
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That is the extent of my prediction. As to who will win? I can't logically call that, other than given the results of the election and the overall mandate for a proactive budget committee exercising fiscal restraint versus the "tone and civility" approach, odds are in Terry Stewart's favor. We'll have to wait and see. Check back here at the 'Grok sometime after 7PM Thursday. We'll post the results and any other news as soon as it comes in.
Comments
I frequently keep up on your Grok postings, but have never posted a comment, up until now. Your postings are certainly good reading. One can be both proactive, fiscally responsible, value Town employees, and do it all in a respectful way. Overall mandate? You guys love numbers, do the math:
William Phillips 981
Douglas Lambert 971
Terry Stewart 876
With so many candidates in the race for Bud Com, you never mention the bottom 4. Looks like a split vote to me:
Dale Dormody 876
Kevin Roy 841
Delores Jeanne Seager 381
E. Scott Cracraft 197
William Knightly 151
The answer to your own "FUD" posting is yes - looming. Looming, when admittedly flawed (but left uncorrected) salary studies, salary deceleration formulas and benefit contribution increases are in your crosshairs, and always will be. If that's your solution to the apparent fiscal crisis Gilford is experiencing, so be it. I just won't sit back and let it happen.
No need to post my comment on your site, just thought I'd pass it along in case you missed it. Thank you.
Posted by: Jeff Madon | March 21, 2007 02:01 PM