Ballots to be inspected

PITTSFIELD — A ballot inspection is scheduled at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Pittsfield Town Office. Candidates from the District 101 House race and the local school board election will inspectballots to determine whether a recount will be requested for either election.

Democratic candidate Louise Townsend of Canaan requested the inspection in the House race won by Republican Sumner Jones of Pittsfield. According to Election Day tallies from the four towns in the district, Jones won the election by about 50 votes. Each candidate apparently received a different report og the vote, leaving the outcome in dispute. The published vote shows Jones with 2276 anf Townsend, 2227.

In the election gfor SAD 53 board of directors, Kerma Cordice, the only incumbent running for re-lection, has requested the inspection because of the small difference in the final vote. There were four candidates for four seats on the SAD 53 board to represent Pittsfield. Dennis Glidden received the most votes, 1494. Voteing for the remaining three candidates, however, weas very clwith Kordice receiving 1337 votes, ohn Slagle, 1352, and David Fortin, 1354.

The inspection process is the first step in a recount.and is undertaken to to determine if their is sufficient evidence to request the recount. In the House race, a recount would be conducted in Augusta under the direction of the Secretary of State. The school bosartd recount would be handled by the town clerk.

On Tuesday, Town Manager Dwight Dogherty wqill assist Town Clerk Marie Pennock in the ballot inspections.

Information on the inspections scheduled in the towns of three other towns in District 101 — Canaan, Cornville and Hartland — was not available Thursday.