UPDATE: Recount Confirms Republican's Win

Updated 6 p.m. Wednesday

Today's recount for the Fifth District Town Council seat confirmed Republican Brian Dempsey's win over Democrat Greg Cann.

That means Republicans held onto their 8-2 majority on the town's chief governing body in the Nov. 5 election.

Though Cann picked up two more votes, Dempsey still won the race by four, 361 to 357, said Democratic Registrar of Voters Rick Marcone.

Marcone said the ballot machine did not recognize the two additional votes for Cann because the ovals were not fully penciled in. But it was determined voter intent was there for the Democrat, he said.

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Our original report, published Tuesday, follows.

A state-mandated recount on Wednesday will determine if Stratford Republicans did in fact hold onto their 8-2 majority on the town’s chief governing body – the Stratford Town Council.

In the race for the Fifth District, last week's municipal election saw Republican Brian Dempsey edging Democrat Greg Cann by six votes, 361 to 355.

State law requires a recount in a race where a winner and loser is decided by less than 20 votes.

Brian Dempsey is the brother of John Dempsey, who after three consecutive years as Fifth District Councilman could not run again for re-election.

The incumbent Dempsey instead ran for Zoning Board of Appeals in the Third District and won convincingly, beating Democrat Cathy Cann-Costas, 914 to 691.

As it happens, Cann-Costas is the daughter of Greg Cann and Immacula Cann, who also lost on Election Day in her bid for a seat on the Planning Commission.

On election night, Dempsey attributed the win to the model provided by his brother’s three successful campaigns. He said as councilman he will continue work on quality of life issues in the Fifth District, including water line and gas replacement projects.

He also said he’d like to see something done at Stonybrook field.

The recount, which is open to the public, is scheduled for noon Wednesday in room 213 at Stratford Town Hall. There are additional recounts planned for Thursday and Friday, for constable and Board of Education, respectively.

Davis Dunavin contributed to this report.