[I]ncumbent Addison County State’s Attorney Dennis Wygmans’ narrow general election victory over challenger Peter Bevere increased during a recount this week, allowing him to secure his first four-year term in office.
On election night in November, Wygmans, a Democrat from South Burlington appointed in 2017, prevailed over Bevere, an independent from Middlebury, by 10 votes.
Bevere, who is currently the chief deputy in the Rutland County State’s Attorney’s office, requested a recount, which took place Monday and Tuesday at the Middlebury courthouse.
According to both candidates, Wygmans’ lead increased during that recount from 10 votes to 21 votes, with 10 disputed ballots sent to a judge for review before final numbers could be set.
However, with too few disputed ballots to make up the 21-vote difference, Bevere said late Tuesday afternoon he was conceding the race.
“I don’t see any more steps to take,” Bevere said. “This is it.”
According to Bevere, as a result of the recount Wygmans totaled 7,816 votes to his 7,795 votes. Election night tallying had Wygmans besting Bevere by a vote of 7,803 to 7,793, according to the Vermont Secretary of State’s website.
Wygmans, reached late Tuesday afternoon, congratulated Bevere on a waging a “hard-fought” campaign.
The incumbent added he was glad that the recount is over and he can move forward on filling out the office’s staff, which has been depleted following resignations of two full-time deputy state’s attorneys and a part-time victim’s advocate.
The two deputy prosecutors had informed Wygmans prior to the November election that they planned to resign their positions to start a law firm together in the Addison County town of Bristol.
One of the deputy prosecutors is leaving in December, and the other departs in early January.
“We have a lot of work to do to get things on track and be able to start doing the people’s work in Addison County,” Wygmans said Tuesday. “I’m excited to build an office that will serve the people of the county.”
Both Wygmans and Bevere were making their first run to be the top prosecutor in Addison County.
Wygmans was appointed to the post in 2017 by then-Gov. Peter Shumlin.
Bevere said Tuesday he’s not ruling out running again in four years.
“We’ll see what happens,” he added.
