Preston – There will be no special election in Preston after one of the candidates involved in a two-way tie for a Planning and Zoning Commission seat has agreed to withdraw from the race.

A recount Monday of three close election races gave Republican PZC candidates Fred Eddy and David Masalin 408 votes each. On Tuesday, newcomer candidate Masalin submitted a letter to Town Clerk Jill Keith officially withdrawing from the race.

“In order to avoid the necessity of a special election,” Masalin wrote, “I am withdrawing as a candidate, yielding the Planning and Zoning Commission regular seat to Mr. Eddy.”

Keith said she received calls from both candidates, each willing to step aside for the other, and a third winning candidate offering to withdraw and let the tie vote-getters take the seats. Keith asked the candidates to work it out among themselves.

Keith praised all the candidates, calling them “very mature and very, very classy,” given the political vitriol expressed nationwide in recent years.

“I’m hoping we can get (Masalin) on a board, because he would be a very good asset to the town of Preston,” Keith said.