Rodriguez prevails in D-23 recount
Holds onto Republican nomination in state Senate race
STRATFORD — A win by six votes might seem like a real cliffhanger, but it’s a tall mountain to climb if you’re hoping that a recount will change the outcome.
In the Aug. 14 Republican primary in the 23rd state Senate district, John Rodriguez came out ahead over challenger Casmir “Caz” Mizera 147 to 141. After a two-day recount, the only change in that tally was one more vote for Rodriguez.
“This just goes to show that money isn’t everything,” said Bridgeport Republican Town Committee Chairman Mike Garrett referencing Mizera’s primary campaign’s better financing. “You have to have a message, too.”
In the machine-scored ballot system used in Connecticut, it’s unusual for election results to change much in a recount, officials said.
Bridgeport Republican Registrars of Voters Linda A. Grace said that Rodriguez — the party-endorsed candidate — picked up a vote from one ballot that could not be read by the machine. That made the final tally 148 for Rodriguez and 141 for Mizera.
“Now the campaign can begin,” said a happy Rodriguez on Tuesday. “But it won’t be easy — the 23rd is one of the most Democratic senate districts in Connecticut.”
The 23rd covers most of Bridgeport and a swath of Stratford’s South End. Bridgeport’s recount took place Monday, Stratford’s on Tuesday.
In Bridgeport, Rodriguez received 132 votes to 87 for Mizera. In Stratford, Mizera came out ahead with 54 votes to 16 for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez lives in Bridgeport while Mizera lives in Stratford.
In a recount, the paper machine-scored ballots are examined for “voter intent” by officials if they can’t be read by the machine. Ballots that are unintelligible or contradictory aren’t counted.
Rodriguez will face Democrat Dennis Bradley, a Bridgeport attorney, in November.