Durham election finally settled

DURHAM – Two of three write-in candidates for a one-year seat on the Budget Committee that ended in a three-way tie last week have withdrawn, eliminating the need for a runoff election.

Town Clerk Shannon Plourde said William Morrill and Jonathan Snell have signed withdrawal forms, paving the way for Richard Hodges to be sworn into office.

Each candidate got three votes last week.

Outgoing Budget Committee member Kenneth Scribner, who won a three-year seat on the committee in a write-in vote, has also withdrawn. The runner-up, William Morrill, will now take that seat. They received four and two votes, respectively.

If the trio had not withdrawn their names, it would have necessitated a runoff election at the polls, Plourde said.