| projo.com | The Providence Journal

11.9.2000 08:17
Delay in posting mail count keeps races in doubt
By Journal Staff Writers
Winners in several local races throughout South County still could not be declared last night because it was not known how the candidates fared with mail ballots.
The state Board of Elections said yesterday afternoon the mail ballots for local races had been counted, and that it intended to transmit the figures electronically to the various town halls.
But it said that would not happen until late afternoon or possibly later, which would be after they closed.
A spokeswoman said the board would also put the figures on its Web site. By late last night, the figures had not been posted on the site.
South Kingstown was a typical example of a race in doubt because of mail ballots.
Only unendorsed Democrat James O'Neill is beyond challenge for his council seat by the 667 mail ballots in that town. The others could hypothetically inch up the list, while finishers in positions two through five could trickle down -- and out of the race.
There are also two local borrowing questions, called bond issues, that could be reversed by mail ballots in South Kingstown.
One would borrow $600,000 for a park at Green Hill, which was approved by voters who turned out to vote on Tuesday, and the other would borrow $1 million for the repair and expansion of Town Hall. That one was rejected by almost 500 more voters than those who favored it.
In North Kingstown, it is the same story.
For the School Committee, only the top vote-getter is safe. Hypothetically, the positions of the others could change if those below them gathered enough of the mail votes.
Narragansett is another example. Only incumbent Councilman John Hickey, who was the only candidate to top 4,000 votes, appears to be unbeatable. The rest of the seven council candidates could shift positions.
In Westerly, only five of the top seven council candidates are sure to be declared winners, despite the mail ballots, and in Hopkinton, four of the top five council finishers are safe.
In Exeter, with 130 mail ballots to be counted, at least two council seats appear to be hanging in the balance. Council President Kenneth L. Fernstrom, a Democrat who finished seventh, could still hypothetically end up on the council.
In Exeter, two charter question results could change, including one to create the position of town manager, which was narrowly defeated.
In Richmond, there are only 82 mail ballots, but they are enough to affect two council seats.
Charlestown has 167 ballots, and they could affect the fourth and fifth council seats.
They could also reverse the nonbinding referendum that asked if Charlestown should withdraw from the Chariho Regional School District. There is only a 10-vote difference, with the majority in favor of withdrawing.

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