A closely watched race for an at-large seat on the Westbrook City Council is headed for a recount after a razor-thin margin of just seven votes separated the top two contenders.
On election night, former councilor Gary Rairdon was reported to have received 2,742 votes, while community advocate Elizabeth Eisele McLellan won 2,735. McLellan formally requested the recount Wednesday, and according to city clerk Ellis Ledoux it is scheduled for Friday, November 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Westbrook Community Center.
McLellan, 48, who coordinates an eviction-prevention program and manages marketing for a local firm, described the outcome as “so close.”
Rairdon, 61, who served as the council’s Ward 4 representative from 2013 to 2024 and previously held the post of council president, was narrowly defeated in his re-election bid last year before launching this latest run for the at-large slot.
The at-large contest emerged as the most contested race this cycle in Westbrook. Incumbent council president Claude Rwaganje opted not to seek re-election, opening the field for new challengers. Meanwhile, the other contested council race Ward 1 yielded a clear margin, as incumbent Brian McCambridge overwhelmingly defeated challenger Dustin Sleight 695-369. Two other council members, the mayor, and three ward representatives ran unopposed.
The recount underscores how every ballot counted in Westbrook, a city of roughly 20,000 residents, can make a difference. With margins measured in single digits, the integrity of the process and the accuracy of vote tabulation are back in sharp focus. The city clerk’s office said all procedures will adhere to standard guidelines, including securing ballots, verifying signatures, and allowing observers for both campaigns.
For McLellan, the request for a recount reflects confidence that even a small discrepancy could change the outcome. For Rairdon, a recount could validate his narrow lea, but also leave open the possibility of the seat slipping away. Either way, the final result will shape leadership on the council as Westbrook faces major decisions on housing, transportation, and economic development.
In recent years, Westbrook has emerged as a focal point for regional growth with new housing projects, an expanding riverfront district, and debates over zoning and infrastructure. The incoming at-large councilor will join deliberations over how to manage that growth while preserving neighborhood character. As such, the recount is more than procedural: it may determine the voice that guides Westbrook’s next chapter.
