Judge Orders a Recount for Easton's Municipal Election

Bridgeport Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis ordered a recount for Easton's controversial municipal election in a ruling made Monday afternoon. Val Buckley, a write-in candidate for first selectman who narrowly lost, had filed legal action demanding that all ballots — including those rejected by the voting machine for not having a bubble filled in — be counted.

"The court does believe there is sufficient reason to order a recount," Bellis said from the bench Monday.

Representatives from all parties will be on hand for a recount Tuesday afternoon and Judge Bellis will be called to certify the results on Friday morning.

The official Easton Election results show Adam Dunsby winning first selectman and fellow Republican Scott Centrella and Democrat Robert Lessler winning selectmen seats. Buckley, who is also a Republican, can potentially win the first selectman seat or beat out Centrella for a seat on the board.

Bellis said she rarely makes comments like this in a decision, before praising the attorneys on both sides for doing "yeoman's work on significant, important issues", as well as the witnesses, all of whom she believes testified honestly.

She announced that her entire 41-page decision will be available online later in the day.

No 'Shadow of a Doubt'

Val Buckley was inside the court room with her husband Derek, a write-in candidate who lost his bid for reelection as town clerk, and supporters.

Cheers erupted inside the courtroom when Bellis ruled in Buckley's favor and friends lined up to hug the emotional candidate.

"I'm very happy," said a smiling Buckley. "I think the judge was extremely fair. She took a long time to look over the details and no matter how the judge ruled today, I would be satisfied."

Meta Schroeter of Weston, who knows Buckley as director of the Easton Senior Center where Schroeter is a patron, had tears in her eyes.

"I believe when somebody writes down a name, they're voting the same way as by coloring in a bubble," Schroeter said.

Of Buckley, Schroeter said, "She's the most ethical person I know. She is an extraordinary person. At the senior center she is dedicated to that population and to making it work."

Randy Shapiro, a write-in candidate for treasurer, had initially tried to get onto the ballot with Buckley as Easton Coalition candidates.

"We worked so hard for this and we were told we were not allowed to take part in that count on Election Day," Shapiro said. "Today I feel justice has been served and there will not be a shadow of a doubt when the recount is done."

The Recount

Robert Russo, the attorney representing the town, said, "I think that Judge Bellis put a lot of thought into her decision and I look forward to reading it. The bottom line is we're gonna have the recount and we're gonna have it quickly."

Russo said he assumes the recount will be at Samuel Staples School sometime on Tuesday afternoon.

Dennis Kokenos, the attorney who represented Buckley, said, "We're obviously happy with the fact that the people of Easton will know every vote's been counted."