After an 80-minute review, Boothbay Town Clerk Lynn Maloney determined there were no problems with the 418 ballots cast in the May 6 town election. Former selectman Chuck Cunningham requested a ballot inspection after he lost his bid for a sixth term in a 206-201 defeat to challenger Desiree Scorcia. 

Cunningham has run for selectman eight times. He lost the first two races before winning his first of five terms in 2004. Cunningham requested an inspection to dispel any rumors of any problems with the election.

“I wanted to make sure everything was clean. Desiree doesn’t deserve to have any questions about this election. We’ve inspected all 418 ballots which proved everything was above board and no problems. The machine count was accurate and she won by five votes. Now we move on,” said Cunningham. 

Candidates have two options following an election. One is requesting a recount. The other is an inspection. “I could’ve requested a recount, but I chose an inspection,” Cunningham said. In his eight previous elections, this was his closest race. “This was the closet election I can remember ever in Boothbay. It definitely was the closest I’ve ever had,” he said.

Scorcia began her tenure as a selectman May 8. She was unable to attend the inspection. Lester Spear attended it as her representative.