As the dust settled on the November 5 election, the three-person pursuit of the two vacant seats on the Warren Town Council gained much more clarity by the following day.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, the counts showed Derrik Trombley and Louis Rego were likely to become the two newest members of the body, replacing departing members Steve Calenda and Brandt Heckert.

The third candidate in the running, Tim White, was far enough off the pace for any further tabulated votes to turn the election in his favor.

As he was at the end of the night Tuesday, Trombley, a novice campaigner, was still first in the results Wednesday with 3,051 votes or 37% of the total. Rego, who served previously on the body, was next in with 2,625 or 31.8%. White, also a first-time office seeker, was third with 2,499 or 30.3%.

At the conclusion of the initial count on Election Night Trembley had 2,704 votes/36.3%, Rego 2,355/31.6% and White 2,331/31.3%.

"This was my first election. No one said to me you have 24 hours to concede or anything like that...I guess you can take this as a concession. I congratulate both of my opponents," White said Wednesday afternoon. "I'm not contesting anything. I will not be putting on a bison hat and storming the Town Hall."

White said he may have considered seeking a recount if his deficit remained in the 24-vote range it was late Tuesday evening. However, since it had risen to well over 100 by Wednesday he did not think it prudent to pursue the result anymore.

"At 24, I probably would have thought I still had a chance, but at 126 I likely don't," White continued. "And even then, why would I put the town through it. All of the vote is electronically counted and I'm confident there was no ballot stuffing or stealing...I feel it all was done fair and square. If that's the final number, that's what it is."

With his initial foray into electoral politics complete, White said he already plans to run for what will be one of three open seats on the Council at the 2026 Election.

"I'll be back," said White, who campaigned without party affilation. "I ran on my principles. I ran on representing the people of Warren. My opponents ran on 'vote for me. I'm a Democrat.' If I only lost by 125 (sic) votes against that, if I apply myself more, get more flyers out there the next time, I don't think I'll have any problem being elected."

He continued about 2026, "Absolutely, without any doubt, without any hesitation, I'm going to run. This was my first time running. I even had to figure out where to find the results. Now that I have my foot in the door, that I have my name out there, I don't think I'll have any problem winning next time. I came within 125 (sic) votes of a Democrat. Especially in Rhode Island, that's pretty good."

As for Trombley, he had good reason to feel comfortable about his position at the end of Election Day regardless of his how either of his opponents viewed things.

Up by several hundred votes over his nearest competitor, the town native and lawyer was just about a lock to earn one of the two seats even with some votes still to be counted.

"I have the great pleasure to say that the voters of Warren have elected me to the Town Council. I want to thank all of my friends, family and neighbors who have contributed to my campaign over these many months either monetarily, helping to knock on doors, holding signs outside of polling places, or even just being willing to talk and give advice," Trombley wrote in a statement to The Times-Gazette Wednesday night, Nov. 6.

"This campaign began out of the idea that Warren needed someone with fresh ideas and who also has deep roots in our community," he continued. "It started with the hope that a new generation of leadership could step up and provide a unique expertise and perspective on how to tackle the financial challenges, the cost-of-living crisis, and other local problems.

"Over these last several months, our campaign has knocked on thousands of doors, spoken with hundreds of residents, and attended dozens of community events. We gave this campaign everything we had, and we have so much work to do that will shape the future of our great town...I look forward to the long road ahead."