Pittsfield to hold recount for at-large council seat

PITTSFIELD — Town officials will hold a recount for the at-large Town Council seat after just seven votes separated the leading candidates.

The recount involves the council race featuring Heather Donahue, Lindsay Holmstrom and Eric Glencross. Preliminary results from earlier this month showed Donahue won the race with 584 votes. Holmstrom was close behind with 577 votes and Glencross trailed with 312 votes.

The recount is open to the public and will be held Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Pittsfield Town Office in the council chambers. The winner will serve a three-year term on the council beginning in January.

Holmstrom requested the recount on Nov. 11, Town Clerk Nicole Nikolan said. It was delayed as officials worked to schedule it around Veterans Day and the Thanksgiving holiday.

Recounts are rare in town and Nikolan said she hasn’t had one in at least 16 years.

Donahue said Monday that she does not anticipate a change to the results.

“I have faith in the process that we have in place and I don’t think that there is going to be a change,” Donahue said.

Holmstrom could not be reached for comment.

Holmstrom currently holds the seat and has served as an at-large councilor for six months, after winning a special election in April. The seat became vacant when state Rep. Amanda Collamore stepped down last December.

Ahead of the election, Holmstrom said she has enjoyed her time on the council and feels she has gained momentum to help modernize town operations and steer infrastructure improvements.

“I just want to let the citizens of Pittsfield know that I have truly appreciated the opportunity to serve the community so far,” Holmstrom said, “and I am confident that I will be able to continue to help make the important changes that are desperately needed.”

Donahue served on the Town Council for several years before being defeated last November by Eric Saucier. Donahue also ran in the special election in April, but was defeated by Holmstrom.

She said prior to the election that she believes her experience serving on the council is an asset, especially when several current councilors are new to the town’s governing body.

“There’s a lot of value in having someone on the council that actually knows how the council operates, and understands the rules and constraints of that,” Donahue said, adding it is important councilors “value the work that our town employees do.”