By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Sept. 6, 2018) “At this point in time, it’s looking like we may not end up actually holding the election,” Administration Services Director Mary Bohlen said during a Berlin Board of Supervisors of Elections meeting Tuesday night.

Three incumbents and no challengers filed for the Town Council election before the Sept. 4 deadline, Bohlen confirmed.

As it stands today, Troy Purnell (District 1), Dean Burrell (District 4) and Thom Gulyas (At-Large) each look to retain their seats.

The deadline to file as a write-in candidate is Sept. 25 and, if no one else files by then, Bohlen said the election would officially be canceled. She said on Tuesday no one had ever won a write-in campaign in Berlin.

Sept. 25 is also the deadline to request absentee ballots at Town Hall and to formally withdraw from the election.

Bohlen said the town would stand to save perhaps just under $1,000 if the election were to be canceled, as the majority of costs were already spent on legal advertising and ordering election materials, which had to be done either way.

The elections board on Tuesday adjourned in less than 30 minutes, as the incumbent candidates’ eligibility had already been verified during an earlier meeting. Bohlen said the board would meet again on Sept. 25, either to verify a write-in candidate or candidates, or formally cancel the election.