DALTON, Mass. — The town clerk's office will recount the ballots from the May 12 local election to verify the results. 

 

William Drosehn, a Select Board candidate, called for a recount last week "to find deeper information about the election results." 

 

Drosehn emphasized that he has followed the rules for requesting a recount, countering concerns raised about his compliance with these procedures.

 

Town Clerk Heather Hunt stated that any candidate has the right to request a recount within 10 days of an election, which Drosehn did.

 

During a previous interview with iBerkshires, Drosehn expressed his intention to call for a recount due to an "anomaly" in the unofficial results. 

 

The well-attended election resulted in Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo winning one of the two seats in the four-way race with 577 votes for the board, outpolling the other three candidates by 107 votes, and incumbent Marc Strout retaining his seat with 486. 

 

William Drosehn, chair of the Finance Committee, was 13 votes behind at 473. 

 

"We were unable to prevail. But things were close. The people have spoken, and I have great respect for that," he wrote in a Facebook post on May 13 and ensured that he will continue to serve the town on the Finance Committee. 

 

In the same thread, Drosehn explained that his expectation of this recount is that the vote will not change. "However, there is data within the count that I am entitled to see." 

 

"The last time I checked, we are entitled to vote, have those votes counted, and if needed be recounted," he said. 

 

"I'm guessing there are people that are concerned about the information that may come out of this recount." 

 

Drosehn did call for a recount, which will take place on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Callahan Room of Town Hall.  

 

"I have called for this recount not to find out if I won or lost, this is to find deeper information about the election results," he said. 

 

During the recount, the town clerk, warden, assistant warden, and 10 election workers will hand count all of the ballots, Hunt said. 

 

If everything goes as planned, Hunt indicated she hopes to keep the cost below $1,000. She highlighted how she hopes to avoid the need for an interdepartmental transfer, but it is not out of the question. 

 

The clerk's office budget has "taken some hard hits this year" with the federal audit for the presidential election, unplanned Feb. 3 special election, and now the recount, she said. 

 

"I've been stretching the dollars as much as possible and have not asked for any additional monies for any of it," Hunt said.