Editor’s update: Town officials corrected a reporting error and confirmed Wednesday that Republican Todd A. Johnston defeated Democrat Leny Wallen-Friedman by 14 votes.
Republican Daniel Lent was sworn in as first selectman Wednesday after a recount on Tuesday confirmed his victory against Democratic Selectman Nick D’Addario.
Lent becomes the first Republican first selectman since 2019. Initial unofficial results had Lent defeating D’Addario by six votes, 1,611 to 1,605, but a recount held Tuesday at Samuel Staples Elementary School gave D’Addario one more vote. The final tally, which must be certified by the Secretary of the State, is now 1,611 to 1,606, according to the recount results posted on the town’s website.
Lent will lead a Republican-majority Board of Selectmen. Republican Selectman Kristi Sogofsky won her reelection bid on election night. D’Addario retains his seat as a selectman.
Recounts for two other races that were too close to call on election night were also held on Tuesday.
The race for a spot on the Region 9 Board of Education resulted in a tie, with Democrat Leny Wallen-Friedman and Republican Todd A. Johnston each receiving 1,537 votes. On election night Johnston led Wallen-Friedman by 11 votes, 1,546 to 1,535.
Dori Wollen, the town’s Republican registrar of voters, said town officials will recount today the hand counted ballots from Tuesday’s Region 9 recount. Depending on the results of the recount, a special election will be held in three weeks unless one of the candidates declines, she said.
The recount confirmed the election night results for the Board of Assessment Appeals, with Republican Adam Bonoff defeating Democrat Wiley Mullins by a count of 1,575 to 1,567.
