TOP STORY: Recounts Possible in Old Lyme Due to Multiple Close Races

OLD LYME–Several tight races between members of the same party have triggered an automatic recount, but one affected candidate has already waived her right to the review process.  

Only 13 votes separate Republican John Mesham and incumbent Republican Selectwoman Jude Read for a spot on the three member Board of Selectmen, based on returns announced Tuesday evening at the culmination of this year’s municipal election. 

The results show Mesham, who lost the race for first selectman against incumbent Democrat Martha Shoemaker, had enough votes to secure a spot as selectman along with Shoemaker and incumbent Democrat Jim Lampos. 

But state law requires a recount when the race is closer than 20 votes. The law also allows the lowest vote-getter in affected contests to call off the recount if they wish to accept the initial results. 

Town Clerk Vicki Urbowicz on Thursday said Read is waiving her right to the recount, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. in the Town Hall.

Read did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. 

The race for three open Board of Finance alternate seats also spurred two sets of recounts due to close results and a state minority representation law that precludes all of the finance board’s three alternates from belonging to the same party. 

The three highest vote-getters – Fred Behringer, Tom Walsh and Diane Y. Linderman – all ran under the Democratic banner. Behringer, who is unaffiliated but considered a Democrat under the state law because he was endorsed by the Democrats, was elected with 1,967 votes. 

Urbowicz said the first recount affects the 7-vote difference between Walsh’s 1,955 votes and Linderman’s 1,948 votes. While the close vote would not typically matter in a race with three open seats, it’s significant this time around because the minority party representation rule says one of the seats needs to go to a Republican.

That means the highest vote-getter among the Republicans will be seated on the board – except that there’s a close vote there, too. 

Only six votes separate Republican Maria Marchant, with 1,687 votes, and Republican Michael Presti, with 1,681.

Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Kimberly Thompson on Thursday said it was still “up in the air” whether Linderman would waive the recount. She said the candidates were notified by Town Clerk Vicki Urbowicz that Linderman has until the day of the recount to decide. 

Urbowicz said she has not heard from the Republicans yet about whether the recount sparked by the close Marchant/Presti result will be waived.

Presti could not immediately be reached for comment.