Schools

School Vote Count Stands; Shah Wins by 2 Votes

Cwerner, who had served one term, said she was honored to serve students and will evaluate how to next serve community.

After more than three hours of recounting on Thursday, the vote count from the April 27 school election stood at 1,193 for Priti Shah, a two-vote lead over Beverly Cwerner, meaning that Shah will remain on the Board of Education for a three-year term.

However, Cwerner, who had served the previous three years and attended Thursday's recount at the county Board of Elections office in Somerville, said she was happy the process of reexamining the vote counts had been conducted.

During the recount, the Board of Elections staff found one more mail-in vote that hadn't been counted, Cwerner said. That particular ballot didn't affect the results for herself and Shah, she said. But, "It does go to show that every vote counts."

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Shah already was sworn , and did not attend the recount. A friend who did attend, Reena Pichamuthu, said Shah already has begun working on school board business.

As during several counts since election night, Cwerner and Shah were neck-and-neck — with the vote count for Cwerner receiving 40 votes more than Shah in mail-in votes, according to Jerry Midgette, administrator for the Board of Elections.

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However, adding in provisional votes, for which Shah received more, and the votes cast in election machines — reviewed Thursday morning — the vote count remained at 1,193-1191, Cwerner said.

"It was an honor to serve the students in our community, and now I will evaluate my next steps," Cwerner said soon after the recount was completed. She said she will think about how to continue to serve the community. 

Before seeking a recount, Cwerner said her request was no reflection on Shah, whom she described as a qualified board member. On Thursday, she spoke of the number of qualified candidates in April's election, when nine candidates sought three available three-year seats.

Linda Wooldridge and Susan McGowan, an incumbent, also were elected to the school board in April.

Cwerner led by 17 votes  in an unofficial count on election night, but the county's count of provisional votes on May 2 put Shah ahead by four votes. The county clerk's office then as the third winner for the three, three-year seats, along with Wooldridge and McGowan.


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