Recount doesn't change outcome of city election
The primary race for Marion City Council Feb. 26, was a close one.
So close in fact, candidate Jerry Kline wanted a recount of the ballots.
There was a mere 10 votes separating Kline, who received the fewest votes, and Bill Holdeman who received the second fewes.
Five candidates were vying for two seats on the council with the lowest vote-getter being eliminated from the April 1 general election.
Those candidates and the ballot count after the recount were: Henderson, 155; Steven Smith, 145; Katherine DeFilippis, 143; incumbent Holdeman, 142; and incumbent Kline, 132.
The manual recounting took place at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the commission room at the county courthouse. Less than an hour later, the votes were in and the tally remained nearly the same with one additional vote each for Kline and Holdeman.
In the 12 years county clerk and election clerk Carol Maggard has been in office, this is the first time a candidate has requested a recount.
"This is his constitutional right to request this," Maggard said.
Kline will be required to pay for the cost of workers and canvassing board members to recount approximately 370 ballots.