Democrat picks up seat in recount

CONCORD – A Nashua Republican state representative still lost his seat after a recount of ballots in his race Friday, but a Francestown Democrat picked up a seat when a recount in her district changed the result.

Henry McElroy finished fourth on Nov. 2 in the race for three seats in Nashua’s Ward 1, 47 votes behind Republican Gene Kelly Jr.

The recount only reduced Kelly’s lead by one vote, and he defeated McElroy, 2,250 to 2,204.

The top two finishers in the race were Nashua Democrats Ruth Ginsburg, a former House member, and Anthony Matarazzo. Ginsburg had 2,415 votes after the recount, and Matarazzo followed with 2,373.

House Democrats added to their ranks after a recount in another Hillsborough County state representative race tipped the election to Francestown Democrat Claudia Chase.

After the recount, Chase defeated Republican Darrio Carrara of Greenfield by four votes, 1,523 to 1,519. On Nov. 2, Carrara won by 31 votes, 1,555 to 1,524.

Carrara had unseated first-term Bennington Republican Rep. Lori O’Brien in the Republican primary.

Chase is an artist and business owner who won her first campaign for elective office.

“I was mad about what I was seeing out there, and Howard Dean inspired me to run,” Chase said.

Carrara had just gone through three days of orientation for new legislators, and could appeal the result of the recount to the state Ballot Law Commission.

“I’m not sure I will appeal. This is just the way things go,’’ Carrara said.

The two-member district includes the towns of Francestown, Deering, Bennington and Greenfield.

Greenfield Republican Rep. Jarvis Adams IV topped the ticket to win re-election to a second term.