While winners have emerged in most Vermont sheriffs’ races — including a pair of Democrats who ousted Republican incumbents in Orange and Windsor counties — the results of the closely watched Franklin County sheriff’s race results remained unclear on Wednesday.
John Grismore, a former deputy fired from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in August after kicking a man in custody, has received 8,860 votes, according to preliminary tallies posted online by the Secretary of State. Grismore, who pleaded not guilty to a simple assault charge in October, was the only candidate to appear on the ballot.
But the state website’s unofficial vote counts have repeatedly alternated since the polls closed Tuesday night. With all 15 towns reporting, the results have sometimes shown Grismore outpacing the combined tallies for write-in candidates and other times lagging behind.
As of Wednesday afternoon, results showed Grismore ahead with 44% of the vote. Write-in candidates collectively earned 7,378 votes, or 37%, according to those results, and 2,898 voters left the question blank. Another 880 ballots were spoiled.
Eric Covey, chief of staff to Secretary of State Jim Condos, said blank and write-in votes are “especially subject to fluctuation, as the Clerks are not required to report individual write-in and blank votes” for unofficial election night results.
“As they complete their official returns of vote, those numbers WILL CHANGE as write-ins are assigned to candidates and blank votes are confirmed,” Covey wrote in an email to VTDigger.
Mark Lauer and Gale Messier joined the race as write-in candidates after the Democratic and Republican parties disavowed Grismore’s campaign and urged him, to no avail, to drop out. Both parties backed Lauer’s write-in campaign.
Video shows Grismore kicking a 42-year-old Winooski man in the groin on Aug. 7, pushing him back onto a bench. After the man stands up, Grismore kicks him again in the groin back onto the bench.
Grismore told VTDigger in an interview that he decided to intervene when he did not believe that two other deputies’ efforts to de-escalate the situation were working. But those deputies later told a state police investigator that they felt the situation was under control, disputing Grismore’s retelling to police and to the press.
Grismore has continued to deny wrongdoing. He’s due back in court in early January.
Lauer ran on his experience in law enforcement, saying he had served in nearly every role in the Franklin County sheriff’s office and spent about three decades working for the Vermont State Police. He oversaw the sheriff’s department’s internal investigation into Grismore’s conduct that resulted in Grismore’s suspension and termination.
Other sheriffs’ races
Meanwhile, two incumbent sheriffs lost their seats Tuesday night.
In Orange County, Democrat George C. Contois beat incumbent Republican Bill Bohnyak, who is president of the National Sheriffs’ Association, by just 102 votes, 6,602-6,500. Bohnyak was first elected sheriff in November 2006.
And in Windsor County, Democrat Ryan Palmer defeated incumbent Republican Michael Chamberlain, who has served for four decades.
In other races, Republican/Democrat Michael Elmore defeated a pair of independents, Gerald Grant and Mark Stacey, in Addison County.
In Bennington County, Democrat James Gulley Jr. beat Republican Joel Howard Jr. and independent Beau Alexander Sr.
In Caledonia County, Republican James Hemond beat independent Joel Pierce.
The remaining races were uncontested. Dan Gamelin won in Chittenden County, Trevor Colby in Essex County, Ray Allen in Grand Isle County, Roger Marcoux in Lamoille County, Jennifer Harlow Jacobs in Orleans County, David Fox in Rutland County, Marc Poulin in Washington County and Mark Anderson in Windham County.
State’s attorneys races
For Addison County state’s attorney, Democrat Eva Vekos beat independent Peter Bevere.
For Franklin County state’s attorney, Democrat John Lavoie beat Republican Zach Weight.
Unopposed for state’s attorneys were Erica Albin Marthage in Bennington County, Jessica Zaleski in Caledonia County, Sarah George in Chittenden County, Vincent Illuzzi in Essex County, Douglas Disabito in Grand Isle County, Todd A. Shove in Lamoille County, Dickson Corbett in Orange County, Jennifer Barrett in Orleans County, Ian Sullivan in Rutland County, Michelle Donnelly in Washington County, Tracy Kelly Shriver in Windham County, and Ward Goodenough in Windsor County.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Marc Poulin’s name.