Recount gives same result for Wards 3,5

As it was reported last week by City Clerk Brenda Aguilar, the City was granted a motion to recount the votes for Wards 3 and 5 since the difference between the numbers of votes was 10 or less. The motion was presented by the City in order to comply with the Arizona Revised Statute Article 16-661, Section 6, referred to recount of votes.

The Cochise County Elections Department in Bisbee conducted the recount of the votes on Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m.

The recount was made by Department members Patricia Viverto, Martha Domann and Juanita Simmons and it was witnessed by Douglas City Attorney Juan Pablo Flores, City Clerk Brenda Aguilar and Executive Assistant Alma Andrade. Also, current Ward 3 council member Ben LaForge attended to the recount with his wife.

After all the votes for both wards, which included early, precinct and provisional ballots, were recounted the result of the vote for Ward 3 Council seat race between candidates Ben LaForge and Lynn Kartchner and Ward 5 Council seat race between Luis Greer and Lourdes Estrada presented no change from the previous result given by the Elections Department, giving the victory to LaForge and Greer.

The results of the recount are as follows:

Ward 3, Ben LaForge with 180 votes, while Lynn Kartchner had 174 votes.

Ward 5, Luis Greer with 121 votes, while Lourdes Estrada received 111 votes.

Flores said the result will become official some time during this week after a County Judge signs the report of the recount, which will be presented to the Mayor and Council in a special meeting in the following days.