Mail Ballots Result in New Winner For Council Race
A count of mail ballots results in a difference of only 3 votes for one Portsmouth Town Council race!
Residents only have until Nov. 20 to weigh in on qualities they'd like to see in a new superintendent of schools.
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The state Board of Elections' count of nearly 1,000 mail ballots in Portsmouth on Thursday resulted in a new winner for the Portsmouth Town Council race.
In a difference of only three votes, incumbent Republican Elizabeth Pedro took the final seventh seat on the council with 3,789 votes. The previous projected winner, Democrat Leonard Katzman, received a total of three votes less than Pedro.
It is unknown at this time if Katzman will request a recount of the votes.
Featured below is the final tally of votes, including mail ballots.
| Race | Candidates | Preliminary results (Portsmouth only) | Final results (with mail ballots) |
| Senate District 11 (Bristol and Portsmouth) | Christopher Scott Ottiano (Republican, incumbent) |
6035 |
6582 |
| House District 72 (Portsmouth and Middletown) | Daniel Patrick Reilly (Republican, incumbent) | 2168 | 2389 |
| Linda Dill Finn (Democrat) | 1959 | 2138 | |
| House District 71 (Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton) | Dennis Canario (Democrat) | 1704 | 1842 |
| House District 70 (Portsmouth and Tiverton) | John G. Edwards (Democrat, incumbent) | 845 | 897 |
| John A. Perkins Jr. (Independent) | 369 | 397 | |
| House District 69 (Portsmouth and Bristol) | Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (Democrat, incumbent) | 227 | 252 |
| Town Clerk | Kathleen Viera Beaudoin (Republican, incumbent) | 6167 | 6724 |
| Portsmouth School Committee (four-year term) (three seats available) | Terri-Denise Cortvriend (Democrat) | 4637 | 5044 |
| Emily Copeland (Democrat) | 5578 | 6045 | |
| Andrew Kelly (Democrat) | 4815 | 5204 | |
| Norbert J. Rattay (Republican) | 3804 | 4166 | |
| School Committee (two-year, 1 unfulfilled term) | John Wojichowski (Democrat) | 4156 | 4490 |
| Michael Joseph Daly (Republican) | 3423 | 3757 | |
| Portsmouth Town Council (two-year term) (seven seats available) | John Blaess (Democrat) |
4600 | 4968 |
| Keith Hamilton (Republican, incumbent) | 3966 | 4335 | |
| Michael Buddemeyer (Democrat, incumbent) | 3940 | 4263 | |
| Paul Francis Kesson (Republican, incumbent) | 3406 | 3737 | |
| Robert Church (Democrat) | 3252 | 3548 | |
| Elizabeth Pedro (Republican, incumbent) | 3460 | 3789 | |
| Frederick W. Faerber III (Democrat) | 3476 | 3764 | |
| Joseph W. Robicheau (Republican, incumbent) | 3329 | 3655 | |
| Leonard Barry Katzman (Democrat) | 3495 | 3786 | |
| Judith J. Staven (Republican, incumbent) | 3160 | 3459 | |
| Mary Donohue Magee (Democrat) | 3527 | 3823 | |
| James Arthur Seveney (Democrat, incumbent) | 3912 | 4238 | |
| David M. Gleason (Independent) | 3564 | 3864 | |
| Allen J. Shers (Independent) | 2685 | 2929 | |
| Town Sergeant | Philip T. Driscoll (Independent) | 5563 | 6049 |
|
Local Ballot Question |
Issue | Accept | Reject |
| Local Question 8 | Charter Review Committees | 5620 |
2672 |
| Local Question 9 | Council Proceedings | 5988 |
2366 |
| Local Question 10 | Town Administrator's Annual Report | 7482 |
956 |
| Local Question 11 | Town Engineer | 4949 |
3190 |
| Local Question 12 | Public Works Director | 5324 |
2914 |
| Local Question 13 | Parks, Recreation, Etc. | 5442 |
3117 |
| Local Question 14 | Personnel | 5363 |
2602 |
| Local Question 15 | Planning Board | 6042 |
2174 |
| Local Question 16 | Town Administrator/Personnel | 5816 |
2180 |
Jane Wolk Wheeler
7:36 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
If Len doesn't request a recount, I will! I thought we were finally out with the old and in with the new.
Bill Carson
8:00 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
"Old Boy Network" in trouble ? There still are a group of concerned citizens in town ! She won because she took a stand against the large bond issues for sewage. She stood up against being bullied by the state.
Now a review is needed to look at the procedure that led to the bond issue voters approved in 2007 to buy the town owned commercial wind turbine.
The Town Council needs to review anyway it can how the serious mistakes were made and determine how to go forward in the future .
A partnership with any future wind turbine contractors needs voter approval before handing town owned property and land over to any contractors without "Due Diligence" !
J. Lane McMahon
4:00 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Hey,
How do you join this "Old Boy Network"? Are there membership cards? A secret handshake? Masonic rituals?
Quick question Bill, What bonds was she against? Because Portsmouth has never even discussed bonds for sewage.
Jane Wolk Wheeler
8:18 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
??? I'm not part of any old boy network. I wanted Len on the council and I don't want Liz on the Council. That's all. I think many folks have concerns about the sewage and turbine issues, but those are separate issues that deserve discussion in perhaps a different forum. I was responding only to the story presented. Later, off to work!
East side
8:31 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
A case where 2 wrongs makes a right. At least Pedro is better looking.
J. Lane McMahon
8:48 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Now that's funny
Jane Wolk Wheeler
4:45 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
"At least Pedro is better looking." Seriously???
Subjective I guess.
John ("Anything But Sue")
8:21 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Jane W.W:.... Better loooking..? TOTALLY. It's hard to explain......
2therightinri
9:13 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Congratulations Liz.... Welcome to Purgatory...
getreal
9:37 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Troubling is how this Bill Carson is still so interested in our little town. Now he changes from his turbine induced rants to the good ol boy misinformation of a true PCC pawn.
Billy boy the people have spoken loud and clear!
Bill Carson
9:54 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Let's look at the proud capabilities and professional backgrounds of the former members of the PEDC. They dedicated themselves to look at the negative side of commercial wind ?
Let's look at the University of Rhode Island reports on siting wind turbines . How exactley do they prepare the reports ? Who decides what goes in the reports ? Are the studies and reports biased in favor of commercial wind ?
We are proud of the past members of the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee (PEDC) Sustainable Energy Initiative ? 40,000 cars go by that broken down wind turbine everyday!
What happens when the town gets a another wind turbine like the one at Portsmouth High School ? Float more bonds ?
J. Lane McMahon
3:58 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Yes Bill,
All the reports are bised towards the wind industry, just like all the polls were biased towards an Obama victory.
East side
12:05 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
The PEDC is a joke. I've asked for specifics that deal with reality and all I got back was comments on how wishful thinking and hoping for governmental change at the State House would take place. My suggestion - fold this committee as well as all of the other sub-committee's. What use are they? Hold the town council accountable for decisions in this town. This is why we voted for them. Hold the Town Administrator accountable - this is why he is get ting paid over a 100K for this job.
J. Lane McMahon
12:27 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
East side,
Please feel free to ask me for any information you wish, I would be happy to try an obtain it for you. Also, please feel free to attend a meeting of the PEDC, as always they are open to the public.
J. Lane McMahon
1:35 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
As too the Town Administrator, I don't understand your vitriol towards him, he can only act as directed by the Town Council. And so far, I think he's doing a great job.
Patriot
2:59 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012
East Side: There is a reason for committees. Town Councills simply do not have the time to address all issues facing any time which is why we have boards and committees. The Tea-Party /PCCers say "How dare the council make this decision without community input" but if the council has a committe investigate a matter (say, management of the dump) then the argument is "How dare the counci leave this decision making process up to elected officials. In other words, they want it both ways, and I'm so sick of this attitude that they can drop dead for all I care.
getreal
12:58 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Open to the public has such a nice ring to it. I am looking forward to the open and transparent government that Portsmouth has been denied by the previous council.
Bill Carson
3:20 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
On August 17,2007 The Town of Portsmouth,Rhode Island received a request to install two 1.5 Megawatt turbines from James P. Sweeney - President of CCI Energy, LLC & Sustainable New Energy.
The proposal would have the contractor lease the land install two turbines and use the 3.2 million dollar CREB. AKA PUBLIC - PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP !!!!!
The proposal was turned down by the town and the Portsmouth EDC .The letter was addressed to Gary Gump.
Why did the Town of Portsmouth turn down the public private partnership in 2007? Did the PEDC make the error ? Click here to read the letter :
http://www.portsmouthrienergy.com/E2.pdf
Appendix E. WIND RESOURCES, ECONOMICS and FINANCING
E. Third party developer proposal
8-17-07
To: Gary Gump – Economic Development Committee – Town of Portsmouth, RI
From: Jim Sweeney
J. Lane McMahon
3:56 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Bill,
the Portsmouth EDC did not turn anything down. They are an advisory group only. Stop telling tall tales.
John ("Anything But Sue")
4:01 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
NOBODY Likes Tall Tales.
Patriot
3:03 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Okay Bill, I get what you are saying: You just plain disagree with the decisions made by the PEDC, so this is proof for you that they are part of some un-American conspiracy. The members were probably born in Kenya.
Bill Carson
9:07 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
HOW LONG TO RECOUNT THE VOTES ? THE REQUEST WAS MADE NOV 9TH ! IT IS GOING ON SIX DAYS ! HOPE THEY HAVE A CHAIN OF CUSTODY FOR ALL THESE BALLOTS -WHY SO LONG TO COUNT THE VOTES
J. Lane McMahon
10:03 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
And this matters to a MA resident,why?
Patriot
9:21 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
The reason it takes so long for a recount: The Board of Elections only does one recount at a time. There are many communities in Rhode Island who votes for people or issues may be put to a recount. The Board says that they prioritize the recounts and, for example, recount votes for state positions/issues before they do local communities. When a committee's vote (say, Portsmouth's vote for town council) comes up for its turn for a recount (that is they are ready to schedule it) all directly interested parties (such as the person who requested the recount) must be given notice. During the recount, as all machines are being fed a ballot, there are observers from the Board, and observers from the Democratic and Republican parties (and others) should they choose to send an observer - and they always do. As you can see there are logistics involved. All in all this takes time - and it always has; this is nothing new. And, incidentally, there is no statutory time frame the the Board must keep to. I am not defending these facts; I am merely stating them. Having said that, I'm sure we could speed the process up IF WE ASK THEM IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS TO PLEASE HURRY UP
Bill Carson
11:18 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thanks for the information.I understand the logistics. I would think the sooner the better to get recount. It should not take over 7 days .
The voting didn't go that well in Rhode Island .Long lines and hours of waiting with ballots delivered to the wrong towns and broken voting machines. Many people who went to vote in the morning never got to vote in some towns because the ballots were delivered to the wrong towns.
We need accurate ballot accounting and secure chain of custody of election materials and equipment. The longer they take on these recounts shows poor prerequisites for good post-election audits.
To often ballots are found unsecured in broken election equipment days after elections .
JimR
11:47 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Recount for Portsmouth Town Council is scheduled for Friday 11/16 at 12PM.
Sandy McGee
12:06 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thank-you Jim!