[T]he topsy turvy race for a spot on the November ballot in Colchester has ended with Pam Loranger easily defeating John Nagle III in a runoff election.
Loranger, who started her campaign as a write-in candidate, will be one of two Republicans to run in a two-seat House district, Chittenden 9-1. The Monday runoff was needed after Loranger and Nagle tied following a court-approved recount of the Aug. 14 primary.
In the recount, Loranger was one vote behind until a judge gave her credit for a write-in vote that used her birth name, not her married name.
“It has been a longer road than usual,” Loranger said Monday night. “I’m delighted this protracted primary has now been decided.”
In the Monday runoff, Loranger defeated Nagle 303-29.
Nagle claimed Monday that there had been irregularities in the initial vote counting and that he was considering consulting a lawyer.
“I don’t mind losing. I don’t mind losing fairly, but I don’t think I actually lost. I think I was screwed. That could just be my opinion,” Nagle said.
Loranger joins fellow Republican Pat Brennan, an incumbent state representative, on the November ballot. They will face off against Democrats Herb Downing, a Colchester selectman, and Sarita Austin, a town planning commissioner. The Democrats ran unopposed in the primary.
Loranger, who runs a property management firm, started her campaign as a write-in candidate and appeared to have beaten Nagle by three votes on primary election night. Nagle called for a recount, which resulted in the tie and led to the runoff.
