Date set for Rochester Memorial School Committee election recount

ROCHESTER — A recount for the Rochester Memorial School Committee will take place on Wednesday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. following a contentious election that ended in an unofficial tie.

Isabel Gomes-McCann and Barabra Lee tied for a position on the Rochester Memorial School Committee after an extra ballot was hand-counted. 

Gomes-McCann then submitted a petition for a recount. 

At a meeting on Monday, June 8, the Board of Registrars decided to host a recount on June 17 at the Rochester Council on Aging. 

There will be four counting tables with one reader and one counter who writes down the results from each ballot. 

The candidates are required to enlist 8 volunteers each who will watch the counters and readers. 

Since there are no bylaws in Rochester addressing ties, Rochester will work with the state election committee to figure out next steps if there is not a clear winner. 

Possible next steps include having a runoff election or leaving the decision to the Select Board and current Rochester Memorial School Committee. 

Gomes-McCann said she did not want the town to organize a runoff election since it will be expensive. 

“I don't want to see another election because I don't want to spend that kind of money,” Gomes-McCann said. “That's a lot of money for this time to spend and we're already struggling with bringing money.”