The results were certified, and the margins were sizable. Alleged ‘mistakes? in handling ballots in the Aug. 3 primary election have prompted a recount in Springfield Township, however.
The Oakland County Board of Canvassers is expected to conduct the recount Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Springfield Township Hall, in response to the request of three unsuccessful candidates, all backed by Citizens for a Progressive Springfield.
Similar petitions were filed by Bill Sahutske, who challenged incumbent Supervisor Collin Walls; Christine Reilly, who ran against incumbent Clerk Nancy Strole; and James Ashley, who tried to unseat incumbent Treasurer Jamie Dubre.
‘The numbers didn’t add up,? Sahutske said, noting the victory of ‘slate? candidate Marc Cooper in the trustee race and the wide diversity of votes among the other three slate members. While not taking away from Cooper’s win, Sahutske said ‘voter history? and ‘human nature? say the variance should not have been more than 10 percent.
Sahutske said he could not remember all the specific complaints in the petition, noting the filing work was done by attorney Angelique McNamara.
Reilly refused any comment on the recount, referring questions to McNamara. Ashley was unavailable for comment,
(Attempts to contact McNamara were unsuccessful prior to The Clarkston News production deadline.)
Petitions filed with the county board of canvassers cited ‘mistakes? such as ballots jamming in at least one optical scanning machine, the failure to deliver all ballots in their proper metal cases, the failure to deliver all ballots via independent election inspectors and an observation of a scanning machine left unattended in a private vehicle.
Strole declined specific comment on the complaints in the petitions.
‘The precinct chairs, the election inspectors and this office administered the primary election with the utmost honesty and integrity, and to imply anything else would be outrageous,? she said.
The closest contested margin of victory was 165 (Dubre over Ashley) in an election in which 2,500 votes were cast. The trustee race had a closer margin among the competitors.
Sahutske said the recount petition is not expected to change the outcome of the election, but that was not the point.
‘It’s the inconsistencies and the mistakes that were made,? he said. ‘I had no choice but to file [for the recount].?
Ellen Davis Halsey, director of elections for Oakland County, said canvassers will first hand-count the number of ballots completed and compare it with the computer record. Then all ballots will be scanned again to produce a second count.
Springfield Township must pay the cost of the canvasser’s time and expenses, and Halsey estimated the total cost to be between $900 and $1,000. The petitioning candidates must pay $10 per precinct for the recount, for a total of $270.
Sahutske said it is worth the tax dollars to conduct the recount, noting township expenses for land condemnation and litigation.
‘It’s pennies per voter when you divide it up,? he said, ‘It’s my right as a citizen of the United States of America.?