Politics & Government

Election 2013: Farmington Democrats Hope to Retain BOE Majority After Recount

Who will be elected to the Farmington Board of Education? Candidates await the results after a race that was too tough to call on Election Day Nov. 5, 2013.

While Election Day has come and gone, candidates for one Farmington board are still awaiting election results. 

On Thursday, there will be a recount for the Board of Education race at 9 a.m. 

“The Board of Education race is too close to call," head moderator Ann Newbury said Tuesday night. 

The school board race has proven one of the most competitive this election. That is the only board in town that holds a Democratic majority. The Democrats have done so for eight years, according to chairperson Mary Grace Reed. 

"I want to thank the voters of Farmington for their faith and trust in me to serve another term on the Farmington Board of Education," Ellen Siuta, a Democratic school board candidate and incumbent, said Wednesday. "Today is bittersweet as I await the recount to determine if the Democrats will retain the majority on the board, the leadership and direction of our school district is vital to our children and our schools and I believe a leadership change at this time would not be in the best interest of the Farmington Public Schools."

Democratic Board of Education candidate Paula O'Brien said that she also hopes her party retains majority representation "after the recount."

"Anyone who knows me can attest that I serve on the school board because I care about our town and our schools," O'Brien said. " I am in no way driven by politics and my party affiliation will have no impact on my actions on the Board. I believe that political rhetoric has no place at the Board of Ed table." 

O'Brien was first appointed to the board and then elected as a Republican in a special election to serve out the remaining term, but she switched to the Democratic party for this election about six months ago.

"My decision was purely personal and I was not influenced in any way by anyone at the Board table," O'Brien said. "I initiated the switch because the message of the national Republicans was not aligning with my beliefs."

According to the unofficial results, incumbent Siuta led with 2,607, followed by Republican William Baker (2,552), O'Brien (2,480), Democrat Bill Beckert (2,411), Republican Shawn Curtis (2,400) and Republican Mark Blore (2,399). Without a recount, all would be elected but Blore, or three Democrats and two Republicans, according to current unofficial numbers.

But since there is a point between him and Curtis and 11 votes between him and Beckert, a recount is needed. By law, if there is less than a difference of 20 votes in a race, it must be recounted unless it is waived, Newbury said. 

Right now, "there's a margin of error," Newbury said of the current results, which the recount will eliminate. 

O'Brien credited Reed with fostering a collaborative atmosphere on the Board of Education and said "she is respected within the district and throughout the community."

"Ellen Siuta, Bill Beckert and I are all incumbents. In addition to allowing us to continue our hard work to foster educational excellence in our town, holding on to the majority will maintain the strong leadership we have in Mary Grace Reed," O'Brien said. "I would hate for her to have to step aside as her role as Chair.  During my time on the Board, there has been a mutual respect among members and we have worked collaboratively for what is right for the district and the children of Farmington.... I am hoping that my two colleagues and I can continue serving on the Board and that we can move forward seamlessly with Mary Grace as our chair."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here