Published: November 04, 2009 03:34 pm      

Winner wants to give up seat to candidate he beat

METHUEN, Mass. - Here's an election oddity that may be a first: the winning candidate wants to give his job to the candidate he beat.

Strange as it sounds, that's what happened in this city's school board election Tuesday.

Kenneth Henrick was "shocked" he defeated George Kazanjian by five votes, and recommended that Kazanjian fill his school board seat.

"He's younger than me," said Henrick, 70. "And he's a sharp guy."

But election officials said they would declare Henrick the winner because he collected 3,487 votes compared with 3,482 for the 61-year-old Kazanjian.

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The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass., provided details for this story. www.eagletribune.com.