Recount scheduled in Republican caucus vote

By Scott Benjamin

(This story was updated on Saturday, July 22, at 12:20 p.m.)

In an e-mail message to Patch.com on Saturday, July 22, Brookfield Republican Town Committee Chairman George Blass stated that the recount was completed on Friday, July 21, with representatives from both slates in attendance to observe.

He stated that, "What was believed to be a ballot overage was not in fact the case. It was due to a clerical issue and was resolved to the satisfaction of both slates."

Blass wrote that after he receives the certified results from the town registrar and once the names are entered into the record, and the caucus is closed, he will "release the names of the winners."

BROOKFIELD -- Due to apparent errors in counting the ballots for the office of first selectman a recount has been scheduled for Friday, July 21, to determine the nominee from the Republican Party caucus.

The nominating and balloting stretched over more than three and a half hours Thursday night.

Brookfield Republican Town Committee Chairman George Blass said that apparently at least one batch of ballots was counted more than once since there were 337 votes in the final tabulation for first selectman and there were only 298 attendees at the caucus, which was held at Whisconier Middle School. He said that the ballots were sealed and would be submitted to the voter registrars.

Someone apparently counted "that same pile of ballots twice," said Blass. He indicated that the totals for some of the other offices that were lower on the ballot appeared to be accurate since there was a total of 298 or fewer votes.

First-term incumbent Tara Carr and former Board of Education Chairman Matt Grimes are vying for the GOP nomination for first selectman.

Blass indicated that the recount would be held on Friday by the voter registrars. Representatives of both candidates for first selectman would be allowed to watch the recount.

He added that Republican State Central Committee member John Morris of Litchfield, who attended the caucus, was placing calls to members of the state party to acquire any needed information on the recount.

Local Republicans have said that they anticipate that the nomination will ultimately be determined in a September primary. It would be the first Republican primary in Brookfield for first selectman since 2003.

The Democrats will nominate their slate of candidates for the municipal election on Monday night, July 24, at 7 p.m. in the party headquarters at 499 Federal Road. Former First Selectman Steve Dunn, now one of the Other Selectmen on the three-member board, is expected to be nominated for his former position without opposition.

Carr departed the caucus at about 10:30 p.m., shortly before Blass and other officials answered questions from the media. She recently captured the recommendation from the Republican Town Committee.

In an interview with Patch.com, Selectman Harry Shaker said he was disappointed that the candidates for first selectman and seats as Other Selectmen were not allowed to give speeches.

Shaker and Grimes also said that only the candidates that were recommended recently by the Republican Town Committee appeared on the ballot, which created confusion among voters. Some voters offered similar sentiments as they departed the caucus.

Shaker was Carr's running mate two years ago. He was not recommended by the Republican Town Committee for another term as an Other Selectman this year. He recently endorsed Grimes' bid for first selectman.

Blass said he hopes the need for a recount will only be a speed bump for the GOP in this election cycle.

He said that he was impressed with the turnout at the caucus, which far exceeded the roughly 87 Republicans that attended in 2021 when Carr was initially nominated to be the party's candidate for first selectman.