While most candidates and communities are looking ahead to the Nov. 2 general election, some are still waiting for the results to be settled in the Aug. 3 primary.
Recounts begin Wednesday for primary outcomes in Waterford Township and Clarkston.
They are expected to be concluded this week.
"This will be closing the book on it," Oakland County Director of Elections Joe Rozell said Tuesday of the Aug. 3 primary. "No rest for the weary, we jump right into the November election."
County election workers will recount 29 precincts in Waterford Township today and tomorrow to determine the outcome of the Democratic primary for township trustee.
In that race, John Paul Torres squeezed out a three-vote win over Donna Kelley, 1,017 to 1,014, with Paul E. Deni finishing third at 934.
Unless the recount changes the outcome, Torres will appear on the November ballot against Republican Anthony Bartolotta and U.S. Taxpayers candidate Paul J. Greenawalt.
The recount will take place at the Waterford Oaks Activities Center.
A second recount will take place Friday at county offices over the outcome of a tax vote in Clarkston.
Canvassers will recount the outcome of Clarkston’s single precinct where voters rejected a proposal to fund its police services by seven votes.
Voters in Clarkston were asked to allow the city to levy an additional five mills of property tax to retain the city police department.
Even if the recounts are concluded by Friday, elections workers may still have to make some changes to the November ballot if an appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court means candidates from the group calling itself The Tea Party can appear on the November ballot.
The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Monday the Tea Party group couldn't appear on the November ballot as a political party because the word "the" wasn't in the proper type style. The group planned to appeal to the high court.
Republicans and tea party organizations have accused the Tea Party group of being a front for Democrats to siphon off votes from Republicans in the November election.
Several of the Tea Party group's candidate filings are the subject of an investigation in Oakland County.
The Michigan Supreme Court, if it agrees to hear the appeal at all, will have to act fast, elections workers say.
State elections workers say they need that court decision by Friday so they can prepare ballots for the November election.
"We're waiting for the Tea Party thing," Rozell said. "We may have to add them back on.
"Our ballots have to be to the printer no later than the 10th," Rozell said. "We would prefer to get the ruling before the 10th so we have time to print the ballots, so the 3rd is a realistic deadline."
Contact staff writer Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649, charlie.crumm@oakpress.com or follow him on Twitter @crummc.
No comments:
Post a Comment