Lev McClain Wins Salem Ward 4 City Council Recount

Salem MA

22 November, 2021

9:03 PM

Description

SALEM, MA — The vote tally was slightly different but the slim margin of victory remained exactly the same for Lev McClain following Monday's recount in the Salem Ward 4 City Council race. Both McClain and Stephanie Rodriguez picked up one official vote during Monday's five-hour recount process at the City Hall Annex that ended with the Board of Registrars awarding the election to McClain in a unanimous vote by an 819 to 810 margin. Rodriguez petitioned for the recount after what was a one-vote deficit early on election night remained in single digits with nearly 100 blank votes. But even after re-examining the blanks and the three write-in votes little changed from the end-of-night tally from Nov. 2. While a 2019 recount involving Megan Riccardi went to a court challenge in Ward 6 before Riccardi was finally sworn in two months after election day, Rodriguez said leading up to Monday's recount that it was just to make sure the true will of the voters was accurately recorded. "I don't want it to be anything that divides us," Rodriguez said. "The voters deserve this. They're entitled to it." Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.) More Patch Coverage: Salem City Council Ward 4 Candidate Will Petition For Recount Salem Ward 4 City Council Candidate Considers Recount Request Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll Re-Elected; Ward 4 Recount?