A recount is scheduled for Monday to double check the close results in the Oxford Selectmen race.
David Haversat, R, lost his bid Tuesday to unseat incumbent First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers.
However, Oxford’s charter also gives Haversat a chance at a seat on the Board of Selectmen, the town’s legislative body.
As of Tuesday, unofficial results showed voters elected David Yish, R, and incumbent David McKane, D, receiving 1,878 votes and 1,871, respectively.
Haversat received 1,862 votes — just nine shy of McKane.
State election rules require a mandatory recount of the ballots in races decided by less than 20 votes.
Town Clerk Margaret Potts – West said Wednesday that a letter was mailed to election moderator Kate Cosgrove informing her of the mandated recount.
Potts-West said candidates could send a letter to the Town Clerk waiving their right to the recount.
If the recount goes Haversat’s way, the Republicans will have a majority on the Board of Selectmen.
Haversat and Yish want the recount to happen.
Haversat said there were many hand-counted ballots Tuesday, due to voting machines not being able to read the cards.
“That is a good enough reason to go through them (the ballots) again,” he said.
The Town Clerk’s Office records show Haversat and Yish both received one hand-counted ballot. McKane received four.
Drayton-Rogers –- who was re-elected to a second term by 33 votes — said she would like to see Haversat, McKane and Yish waive their right to a recount.
Drayton Rogers said Wednesday those waivers would save the town money.
“I have participated in recounts before and have never seen a change in the outcome,” she said. “We need to get on with the business of the town.”
McKane does not want a recount.
“I don’t see a need for it,” he said.
