Judge grants recount in Terre Haute mayoral race (D lost by 107)

[Newsjock]

Source: Terre Haute Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — A Vigo County judge today granted a recount in the mayoral race decided by just over 100 votes.

Vigo Superior Court Div. III Judge David Bolk ordered that all the ballots cast in all city precincts are to be recounted. He also ordered the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department to impound all ballots and electronic voting systems used in the election.

Mayor Kevin Burke had filed a petition for recount shortly after he lost to Mayor-elect Duke Bennett by 107 votes. Bennett’s attorneys on Monday had filed a motion to dismiss the recount on grounds that Bennett’s name in the petition was not as it was on the ballot, which is required by law.

Read more: http://www.tribstar.com/breakingnews/local_story_331160225.html

[Robbien]

1. Isn't Terre Haute where the Democratic party is in bed with GOPers?

Wasn't there an article here at DU which said a high ranking member of the Democratic party was promoting only GOPer candidates?

Interesting to see how this mayor's race all falls out.

[Newsjock]

3. Yes, here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3075962

TERRE HAUTE — A Vigo County Democratic precinct committeeman plans to petition for the party secretary’s removal after he allegedly supported several party opponents.

Committeeman Chris Gambill said Friday that he intends on petitioning the party for the removal of Mike Ellis, secretary of the county Democrat Central Committee. He alleges that Ellis has worked on behalf of Republican candidates in the past several elections, including mayor-elect Duke Bennett. Ellis wrote a letter to the editor of the Tribune-Star published Wednesday in which he encourages Mayor Kevin Burke, a Democrat, to abandon his challenge to the mayoral race results on the grounds of Bennett’s eligibility for candidacy.

Gambill then wrote a letter published Thursday that states that while Ellis has the right to support and work for any candidate, if he chooses to support the Republican Party he should immediately resign his position with the Democratic Party.

Ellis introduced his letter and signed the correspondence by stating his position with the local Democratic Party. Gambill in his letter calls for Ellis to resign “or be removed by a vote of” Democratic Party officeholders.

[LiberalFighter]

2. I wonder what code citation the attorney is using regarding Bennett's name

I couldn't locate the appropriate code.

[kirby]

4. Huh?

Won't recounting the same electronic digital crap yield the same flawed number? Judges without technical knowledge just dont get it, do they?

[cshldoc]

5. A dubious honor

Being the Mayor of Terre Haute, Indiana is a dubious honor at best. Fighting over said position is like fighting over who gets to scoop the catbox.