Recount Expected After 4-Vote Difference In Ward 7

MELROSE, MA — Ryan Williams plans on requesting a recount after his razor-thin loss to Cory Thomas in the Ward 7 City Council race.

Thomas beat Williams, 697-693, Tuesday night in the most tightly contested race of the election. There were two write-in votes and 94 ballots left the vote blank.

Williams has 10 days to file for a recount, according to Thomas. Patch reached out to the elections office for more details but did not immediately received a reply.

"With a four-vote difference on 1,392 ballots cast, we owe it to everyone to conduct a formal recount so we can be confident in the results," Williams told Patch Tuesday night. "Whatever the outcome of that process, I'm humbled and amazed that almost 700 people came out to the polls for me and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart for their time, their trust, and their courage."

Thomas expected a recount.

"I believe in the democratic process," he told Patch Tuesday night. "You don't have to win by a million votes, you only have to win by one vote. I won by four, as far as I'm concerned I'm the winner. I'll let the process play out but I'm prepared to represent Ward 7 as the next City Councilor. I congratulate him on a hard-fought race."

The two jostled to succeed President of the Board Scott Forbes in Ward 7. Williams told Patch before the election he was hoping to end what he said is an "insider culture we have in City Hall."