BATH — A recount of Nov. 6 ballots Thursday confirmed Leverett Mitchell was the winner of the City Council Ward 7 election.

Mitchell had 232 votes, followed by Cal Stilphen with 226 and Larry Scott with 218 – exactly the same results as announced on election night.

Stilphen, who had requested the recount, said it was a process worth doing.

"I owe it to the people that voted for me," he said, to take a second look "and make sure that (the numbers) are accurate. ... I'm glad I went through the process."

The three candidates ran to fill a vacancy left by the Sept. 28 death of Councilor Ruthe Pagurko, who had served two years of a three-year term.

Stilphen, who ran unsuccessfully against Pagurko in 2010, said he is already planning to run again for the City Council, either for the Ward 7 seat or as an at-large candidate.

For City Clerk Mary White, the election marked the first time in 17 years – five as deputy clerk, and the past 12 as clerk – she had to recount a municipal election. 

White was pleased with the results.

"I figured a ballot off here, or a ballot off there, but no sir," she said Thursday. "Even the machines don't dare to mess up."

All the ballots were hand-counted at City Hall, with all three candidates in attendance.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.