Neb. legislative race appears headed for recount
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008
LINCOLN (AP) -- One of two Nebraska legislative races with razor-thin margins appears headed for a recount.
A final vote tally by Lancaster and Saunders County election officials on Wednesday showed Ken Haar of Malcolm with just a 21-vote lead over James Arthur Jeffers of Raymond in the District 21 race. The district includes northern Lancaster County and part of southern Saunders County.
The margin appears close enough to trigger a recount because Haar's vote lead equals less than 1 percent of the total votes he received. The state canvassing board will decide whether to order a recount early next month.
In another Lancaster County race, Colby Coash of Lincoln appears to have exceeded the 1 percent criteria by just eight votes. A count by Lancaster County officials showed Coash beating Dan Marvin of Lincoln by 79 votes in the District 27 race.
The state saw several competitive legislative races this year, and some observers say they were prompted by term limits.
Also, many of the races -- including those in Lancaster and Saunders counties -- pitted Republicans against Democrats, a consequence of the parties more actively recruiting candidates.
Haar and Marvin are Democrats. Coash and Jeffers are Republicans.
A clean sweep of veteran lawmakers began in the 2006 election, opening the state Capitol's front door this year to one of the most inexperienced group of lawmakers in state history.
Fifteen of the 26 state legislative seats that were up for grabs in the general election are occupied by veteran state senators being ushered out by term limits.
In 2006, 20 of 49 members were barred from seeking re-election.
The upcoming lawmaking session will be a test of term limits because there will be few veterans for new senators to rely on for guidance.
Approved by voters in 2000, term limits restrict senators to serving two consecutive four-year terms.
A final vote tally by Lancaster and Saunders County election officials on Wednesday showed Ken Haar of Malcolm with just a 21-vote lead over James Arthur Jeffers of Raymond in the District 21 race. The district includes northern Lancaster County and part of southern Saunders County.
The margin appears close enough to trigger a recount because Haar's vote lead equals less than 1 percent of the total votes he received. The state canvassing board will decide whether to order a recount early next month.
In another Lancaster County race, Colby Coash of Lincoln appears to have exceeded the 1 percent criteria by just eight votes. A count by Lancaster County officials showed Coash beating Dan Marvin of Lincoln by 79 votes in the District 27 race.
The state saw several competitive legislative races this year, and some observers say they were prompted by term limits.
Also, many of the races -- including those in Lancaster and Saunders counties -- pitted Republicans against Democrats, a consequence of the parties more actively recruiting candidates.
Haar and Marvin are Democrats. Coash and Jeffers are Republicans.
A clean sweep of veteran lawmakers began in the 2006 election, opening the state Capitol's front door this year to one of the most inexperienced group of lawmakers in state history.
Fifteen of the 26 state legislative seats that were up for grabs in the general election are occupied by veteran state senators being ushered out by term limits.
In 2006, 20 of 49 members were barred from seeking re-election.
The upcoming lawmaking session will be a test of term limits because there will be few veterans for new senators to rely on for guidance.
Approved by voters in 2000, term limits restrict senators to serving two consecutive four-year terms.
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