Stover wins by two votes Roggeveen will call for a recount
BY MARY LANCASTER
In one of the tightest races in island history, last night residents elected Town Clerk Catherine Stover to fill former selectman Michael Glowacki's interim seat on the board by just two votes, barely edging out Patty Roggeveen who intends to ask for a recount.

Patty Roggeveen, second from left, and David Gray, third from left, along with their supporters on the stump across from the high school yesterday afternoon.

With 2,002, or 25 percent of Nantucket's 7,989 registered voters turning out at the polls, Stover came out on top with 803 votes compared to 801 for Roggeveen and 373 for David Gray.

"It's surreal," said Stover after 70 ballots rejected by the voting machine were counted and changed the preliminary numbers from 750 for her and 790 for Roggeveen. "I can't really make a reaction [until the recount is done]. If Patty hadn't asked for a recount I would have."

Stover, sporting a new, short hair style after having her long red hair cut yesterday morning as a donation to Locks of Love for wigs for cancer patients, was sworn in as the fifth selectman this morning, but it is hard to say if, or how long her position will last.

A recount is done by voter registrars and is scheduled as soon after the request as the registrars are available. Stover is one of four island registrars but said the recount can be done by the remaining three - David Goodman, Carolyn Gould and Janet Coffin. Recounts in recent years have been done in the high school cafeteria and are usually held on a Saturday so as not to interfere with academic hours. The registrars act as "judges" with the actual recount done by teams of ballot readers with tally clerks who record the numbers. The registrars' ruling is binding and can only be appealed in a civil superior court action.

"It could be a week, it could be a month," Stover said, speaking from her past experience of when recounts occur after close races.

Roggeveen declined to comment after the election other than to say she will seek a recount of the votes. Gray said that at this point he will continue to seek office in the future.

After Glowacki resigned in August for health reasons, the selectmen voted in September to hold a special election to restore a fifth member to the board. Roggeveen, Stover and Gray were the only three contestants after Nancy Sevrens and Grant Sanders withdrew from the race early on and because of the unexpected death of Arch McColl. At the request of his family, McColl's name remained on the ballot, which was printed prior to his fatal heart attack on Oct. 22. He received 15 posthumous votes last night.

Stover, 54, has been Town Clerk for eight years. She serves on the Cemetery Commission Workgroup and Board of Registrars. She was not planning to run next year, but her interest in planning and growth management prompted her to compete for the open seat. Stover is confident that her long working knowledge of government functions and close association with department heads will assist her well as a selectman.

Roggeveen, 47, is Director of the Nantucket Community School and co-chairman of the Council for Human Services. She ran this year against Michael Kopko and intended to run again in 2007, saying she is prepared and ready for the job. Roggeveen believes top priorities for the selectmen include keeping the budget under control, in part by examining fiscal implications of proposed projects that come before the town. Further, she is adamant that fiscal issues should be given close thought for five to 10 years into the future, rather than focus strictly on an annual projection. Roggeveen also is intent on finding new ways to address the island's housing crisis that is driving away many families and vital community workers.

I

Independent ELECTION RESULTS

NOV. 21, 2006
Registered voters
7,989
Total Votes Cast
2,004 (25% of registered voters)
Stover
803 votes   (40%)
Roggeveen
801 votes (40%)
Gray
373 votes (19%)
McColl
15 votes (01%)