Contente unseats Teixeira; recount expected

I’m happy my campaign fall into place exactly as we planned. I’m confident things will keep moving forward. I’m, very optimistic about the future of Bristol.”

Steven Contente

Former Deputy Police Chief Steven Contente has unseated Town Administrator Tony Teixeira, winning the election for the town’s top job more than a week after Election Day.

The result is not yet official, however, pending certification by the Town Clerk’s office and a possible recount, which Mr. Teixeira said he plans to request before Wednesday’s 4 p.m. deadline. In one of the closest local elections in recent memory, Mr. Contente has won by just 43 votes, less than half a percent of the nearly 10,000 votes cast.

“Yes, definitely, I will be doing that,” Mr. Teixeira said of the recount. “It’s too close to just call at this point. I want to clear all doubt. I think in fairness to all the people who have worked so hard, it’s only fair that I ask for the recount. I would expect if things went the other way, he would do the same.”

Mr. Content said Wednesday morning he will not be requesting a recount, and while the election is not yet certified, he is moving forward.

“It’s still unofficial, but I am preparing for my new role serving the town,” said Mr. Contente, who would be sworn in on Dec. 5, assuming the result holds. “I’m going to start putting my plan in place.”

Part of that plan follows from the way he ran his campaign. Mr. Contente said he plans to run an open and honest Town Hall that provides constituents with all the information on issues affecting the town.

“My administration will inform the public as much as possible. The more information that’s out there, the better,” Mr. Contente said. “I’m excited and I’m happy because when I set to run, I brought in some of the best people and we stuck to the plan, which was to bring up issues but be respectful at all times and stay positive. I’m happy my campaign fall into place exactly as we planned. I’m confident things will keep moving forward. I’m, very optimistic about the future of Bristol.”

The state Board of Elections finally posted the final numbers on its website around 10:30 Wednesday morning, more than a week after voters cast their ballots. After a recount of votes cast at the Roger Williams University polling location due to a technical error, and tallying of 934 absentee ballots, the candidates remained locked in a virtual tie. Mr. Contente led by 34 votes with 59 provisional ballots to be counted, leaving the race up to those ballots that could not be counted on Nov. 8 for various reasons. Perhaps a voter did not have a photo ID, or a voter's last name changed due to a marriage. Voters are still able to cast their ballots, but their identities must be confirmed later and their votes counted manually at the Board of Elections’ Providence office, Town Clerk Lou Cirillo explained.

The board had told Mr. Cirillo the results would be finished Monday. When Monday came and went, the elections board promised the provisional ballots would be counted by Tuesday afternoon. When that didn’t happen, the board told Mr. Cirillo they would be done in time for the losing candidate to decide whether to appeal by Wednesday’s deadline. 

Mr. Texieira acknowledged that the length of time the candidates were left in limbo has been a bit difficult, especially around the office.

“It is a bit frustrating. There’s been a little bit of anxiety on the part of some folks,” he said. “It is what it is, and we’ll keep going through the process and accept whatever it ends up. We’re keeping business as usual. We’re going to keep working up until the last day.”