Alan Livingston has been declared the winner of the District 5 School Board seat, after the City held a recount this afternoon. The vote was 4,166 to 4,149.
Livingston, a math teacher, said in an interview this evening that he picked up a few votes but was unsure of the final tally. He said a quorum of the Council witnessed the recount and approved him as winner.
The original count put Livingston at 4,166 votes and Tappan Fitzgerald, his opponent, at 4,152. Fitzgerald had requested the recount.
Livingston said that he and Fitzgerald have become friends during the recount process, held at City Hall.
Livingston has never held public office but has a lot of experience with South Portland schools. His three grown children attended South Portland schools, and his two grandchildren are now students in the city’s public schools.
Livingston himself attended South Portland schools. As a career educator, he has taught at public schools in South Portland and Westbrook. He currently teaches math at Cheverus High School.
