Recount shows no 'significant change'
By Bret Hayworth | Posted: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Ron Hood, right, of Ashville, Ohio, representing Jeremy Taylor, looks through ballots along with Michael O'Brien of Sioux City, representing state Rep. Wes Whitead, during the recount procedure for the Iowa House District 1 race Tuesday. After three precincts were counted Tuesday, there were no big differences in the vote totals. Counting continues today. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
SIOUX CITY -- A recount of the three largest precincts resulted in no "significant change" in the ever-so-close Iowa House District 1 race in Woodbury County, an official said.
A three-member panel began recounting ballots just after 9 a.m. Tuesday and concluded about 9:45 p.m. after counting precincts 1, 9 and 10. They plan to resume counting the remaining seven precincts this morning.
Republican candidate Jeremy Taylor of Sioux City requested the recount after he lost the election by 60 votes to incumbent Democrat Wes Whitead of Sioux City.
Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill said Tuesday that panel members declined to release the results of the recount, saying only there had been no "significant change" in the results.
"The only thing they've said is there hasn't been any significant difference between was what was reported at the canvas and what they've found," Gill said late Tuesday.
Working in the former Eagles Club building at 401 Eighth St. downtown, the Recount Board has initially counted the ballots by hand and machine. Unless they encounter discrepancies, Gill said the panelists plan to use a machine to count over the rest of the 12,000-plus ballots.
The board members are Sioux City attorneys John Mayne and Michael O'Brien, and Ron Hood of Ashville, Ohio. They were chosen by Whitead and Taylor.
Taylor contended the closeness of the election and the snafus in counting ballots over eight days following the Nov. 4 election warranted a recount.
County Auditor Pat Gill is observing the process, but the duties of the recount rest completely with the board.
Hood said the board would begin by counting Precincts 1, 9 and 10 by hand, and if the recount came within a few votes of the original count, then they would likely complete the rest by machine.
"We want to do it right," O'Brien said.
The board is recounting ballots from 10 city precincts. The ballots were within 103 boxes in the building.
-- Reporter Molly Montag contributed to this report.
A three-member panel began recounting ballots just after 9 a.m. Tuesday and concluded about 9:45 p.m. after counting precincts 1, 9 and 10. They plan to resume counting the remaining seven precincts this morning.
Republican candidate Jeremy Taylor of Sioux City requested the recount after he lost the election by 60 votes to incumbent Democrat Wes Whitead of Sioux City.
Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill said Tuesday that panel members declined to release the results of the recount, saying only there had been no "significant change" in the results.
"The only thing they've said is there hasn't been any significant difference between was what was reported at the canvas and what they've found," Gill said late Tuesday.
Working in the former Eagles Club building at 401 Eighth St. downtown, the Recount Board has initially counted the ballots by hand and machine. Unless they encounter discrepancies, Gill said the panelists plan to use a machine to count over the rest of the 12,000-plus ballots.
The board members are Sioux City attorneys John Mayne and Michael O'Brien, and Ron Hood of Ashville, Ohio. They were chosen by Whitead and Taylor.
Taylor contended the closeness of the election and the snafus in counting ballots over eight days following the Nov. 4 election warranted a recount.
County Auditor Pat Gill is observing the process, but the duties of the recount rest completely with the board.
Hood said the board would begin by counting Precincts 1, 9 and 10 by hand, and if the recount came within a few votes of the original count, then they would likely complete the rest by machine.
"We want to do it right," O'Brien said.
The board is recounting ballots from 10 city precincts. The ballots were within 103 boxes in the building.
-- Reporter Molly Montag contributed to this report.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 5 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Dick wrote on Nov 19, 2008 4:47 PM:
GH Thomas wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:48 PM:
Fact 3: These voters (about 125) did NOT have the opportunity to vote for their District 1 representative and were therefore "disenfranchised."
Fact 4: The Commissioner of Elections (Pat Gill) ignored direction from the Secretary of State's office in his guidance to auditors, requiring ballots to be printed by precinct.
Fact 5: State Law requires votes counted the day of the election, but Woodbury County took 6 days, the last in the state to complete validation.
I have more facts, Mr. "Xman" but I'm out of space. Open your eyes to the truth, these are the facts and they are indisputable. "
GH Thomas wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:44 PM:
Xman wrote on Nov 19, 2008 11:59 AM:
Another Genius. "
GH Thomas wrote on Nov 19, 2008 9:38 AM: