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PUBLISHED ON EDITION NO.
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325L
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11/22/2009 |
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Election Recount 2009 |
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Por
Alberto Surís
albertosuris@rumbonews.com
Last Saturday, the City of Lawrence held an election recount
at the request of District A Candidate Joseph Armano vs. Sandy
Almonte and Ruth Rojas vs. District B Councilor Grisel Silva.
After five long hours of meticulous scrutiny of the ballots,
both Almonte and Silva were declared winners and certified by
the Board of Registrars.
At the recount, Almonte topped Armano by 11 votes (858-847).
At the election Almonte had received 853 vs. 843 for Armano.
Silva, who had received 933 votes at the final election, lost
3 in the recount. For Rojas, the recount produced no change.
The final tally was Silva 930, Rojas 912.
This was the second time for Rojas to request a recount. After
loosing the 2007 election to Councilor Silva for 30 votes,
Rojas requested a recount. On that election the totals were
Silva 497, Rojas 467.
“I’m very excited,” said Councilor Elect Sandy Almonte. “I was
challenged not once but twice during this process. That shows
that I’m a fighter and that I’m ready to be the voice of
Lawrence.”
Considering the financial crisis the city is in, many
observers questioned the need of spending an estimate of
$15,000 trying to overturn an election. “Very difficult, with
the system we have in place,” commented Rafael Tejeda in the
past.
“Two fire stations closed and we have to spend $15,000 for
this?” said Council President Patrick Blanchette.
“It was worth it,” said Joseph Armano who picked up four votes
in the recount.
Both Silva and Almonte criticized the spending. City Attorney
Charles Boddy agrees but called it “the candidates’ right” to
do it.
“I know it’s a constitutional right, but somebody has to come
to their senses,” said Blanchette. |
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Candidates Joseph
Armano and Sandy Almonte are all smiles at the recount
requested by Armano. |
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Left to right,
Election Worker Bill Collins and City Clerk William J.
Maloney with Election Workers Santo Acevedo and Heidi
Stokes, in the process of organizing the ballots. |
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ADVERTISEMENT |
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