Albaum readies for Ward 5 recount

LYNN – City Clerk Mary Audley said there is a process to holding an election recount but she has never had to break it out for a preliminary election.”I’ve never had one in a preliminary that I can remember,” she said. “But I can’t recall having three candidates that ever finished that close.”Candidate Seth Albaum lost his bid for a spot on the Ward 5 City Councilor ballot by only five votes during Tuesday’s preliminary election and said he plans to call for a recount.”Picked up the paperwork today,” Albaum said. “I have until Monday to drop it off but I will probably do it tomorrow. I only have to get 10 signatures.”According to the Election Recount rules put out by Secretary of State William Galvin, a candidate must file a petition for a recount, that includes 10 signatures of registered voters, by 5 p.m. on the sixth day after the election. After Audley receives the recount petition she sets the time and place for the recount. Audley said she also has to give Jake Keo, the candidate who just beat out Albaum with 187 votes to 182, and Dianna Chakoutis, who outpaced both candidates by a 2-1 margin, three days notice of the recount.Although he has until Monday to file his petition Audley said the sooner Albaum files the better because she is on a tight schedule heading into the November election.”I was supposed to draw ballot placements on the 26th but if there is a recount I won’t be able to,” she said. “And I have to order the ballots.”Audley said it takes three to four weeks to order the ballots and she needs them early enough so that the absentee ballots can be sent out. Audley, however, was quick to add that she doesn’t fault Albaum for asking for a recount in such a close finish.”It won’t be too bad, it’s just hard because everything comes to a screeching halt when there’s a recount,” she said.Albaum said he is doing it largely at the urging of his supporters and for peace of mind.”There have been recounts before that have changed things,” he said.