PALMYRA — Ballot inspection and a recount of votes cast in the March 13 election for a seat on the town Board of Selectmen is set for 8 a.m. Friday at the Community Center in Palmyra.

Former Somerset County Commissioner Robin Frost was the lone candidate on the ballot to finish the two years left of a term expiring in 2017 left vacant by the departure of Selectman Brent Hale, who moved out of state. Frost received 76 votes, but write-in candidate Michael Cray received 78 votes.

“Because it was so close, the candidate that had the two less votes requested a recount,” Town Clerk Valerie Sprague said Thursday. “It was Robin Frost who asked for the recount for the second part of the ballot finishing out the two-year term.”

Michael Cray, a school bus driver and former Palmyra selectman, is the brother of Somerset County Commissioner Dean Cray, also of Palmyra. Dean Cray unseated Frost for county commissioner in the November election for the District 3 seat on the five-member board. Dean Cray received 2,523 votes in that election to Frost’s 1,137.

In the only other Palmyra election March 13, Ronald Rowe, who had previously mounted an unsuccessful bid for selectman, won a seat on the board for a three-year term with 62 votes. Former Selectman Herbert Brindley received 45 votes and political newcomer Camile Derosier received 44 votes.

Michael Cray received 24 write-in votes for that seat.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Doug_Harlow

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