Vote Recount In Farmington Results In A Change

FARMINGTON, CT — Farmington election officials this week completed a re-canvassing for four races in the 2021 municipal election. The recount upheld the results from Election Day, with one exception.

A discrepancy that occurred in the Town Clerk’s office the night of the election was uncovered during the final tallying of the recounts on Monday and it resulted in a change of 58 votes for Democrat Scott Halstead in the Plan and Zoning Commission race. The correction resulted in a reversal from a loss to a win for Halstead.

The original official town election results published on Nov. 2 had Halstead losing by nine votes. When the re-canvassing results were finalized Monday, Halstead had earned a seat on the commission, by 49 votes.

Halstead, a current member of the TPZ, is now confirmed to have been elected to his first full term on the commission. He is currently serving a vacated term.

Other notable results from Farmington’s elections, confirmed by the re-canvassing, include Rafeena Bacchus Lee's victory, which will add a third seat for the Democrats to the Farmington Town Council. Local Democrats are touting Bacchus Lee as the first woman of color elected to the council.

Long-time Plan and Zoning Commission member Barbara Brenneman was re-elected for another term and first time candidates James Rackliffe and Liz Sanford were elected to serve on the TPZ as alternates.

Jon Schoenhorn was re-elected to the Zoning Board of Appeals, and Chris Cloud was elected to his first term on the ZBA. Alternate Harry Marsh won re-election to the Board while newcomer Bob Wienner was elected to a first term also as alternate.