UPDATED He says it’s the right thing to do, and voters asked him to make sure it happened.
Third Ward Alderman Russell Fleming says he’s asking the City Election Commission to recount the ballots in his loss to newcomer Lindsey Hillary. Hillary now leads Fleming by three votes instead of two, 73-70 in Tuesday’s Consolidated Election, but the Commission says two mail-in ballots have not yet been received. They can still be counted as long as they are postmarked on or before April 2.
Fleming declined to be interviewed on-air, but says he’s doing it because the race was close, and that supporters wanted him to.
Galesburg Board of Election Commissioners Chair Roger Williamson tells WGIL he’s been on the commission ten years, and this is the first time a recount has been called for.
“It’s close enough that any candidate that has come up short is entitled to ask for a discovery recount,” says Williamson. “But, that can’t be done until [April] 16th.”
Williamson says that’s when the results of Tuesday’s consolidated election will be certified by the Election Commission. He emphasizes that the commission doesn’t declare a winner — rather, they simply certify the results.
Because of its closeness, the Ward 7 race between Larry Cox and Ashley Worby could also be recounted, but that has not been requested yet.
Voter turnout in Galesburg was less than eight percent.
CLICK HERE for the state statute on recounts (PDF from Galesburg Election Commmission).
(Galesburg Election Commision chart)
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