CBS12 News Team

Wellington canvassing board votes for hand recount

WELLINGTON, Fla. -- The Wellington election saga is not over yet. Tonight, the village canvassing board voted to seek a hand recount of all the ballots in the March 13 election for mayor and two city council seats. They will have to get a judge to order that recount and not everybody agrees with the delay.
"If they do a recount, then they do a recount. I just think it's dragged on too long," said Wellington resident Heather Frazier-Cmejla.
A crowd gathered outside Wellington City Hall, and some were not too happy.
"I just think it's foolishness," said Wellington resident Beverly Perham.
Just when some people in Wellington felt a new mayor and two new city council members were going to be sworn in, the village canvassing board voted to ask a judge to order a hand recount in the March 13 election.
"It's not necessary at all and it should never be allowed," said Don Perham, Wellington resident.
Voters in Wellington went to the polls March 13. But there was a computer glitch. A recount last week showed the supervisor of elections office had declared the wrong winners in two city council races. So now, the canvassing board wants another recount.
"Absent a count by hand, how can we be sure that we've got the right people that are gonna be put in office?" asked canvassing board member Dr. Carmine Priore.
"We believe the recount to be accurate," said Susan Bucher, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections.
"There is tremendous doubt. I have more questions than I have answers," said Dr. Priore.
The canvassing board meeting drew a standing room only crowd, and dozens packed city hall thinking the election mess was finally coming to an end. Some carried signs outside city hall, urging city leaders to stick with the results of last week's recount.
"We're a democratic society. We vote. We expect our votes to count," said Wellington resident Gini Merola.
But others say there's nothing wrong with doing a hand recount.
"I believe it's very important that the people have a confirmation of what the count is, so I think a hand count is very fair," said Shauna Hostetler, city council candidate.
"We've always said it's the will of the people and if it means doing a recount, let's do it. Lets get it over very quickly," said Bob Margolis, candidate for mayor.
And for some, who were expecting to be sworn in tonight, this is another delay.
"Obviously I'm a little disappointed. I was hoping to be seated because of the overwhelming number of votes in my seat showed that I was the winner. But you know what? I'm not averse to a manual recount," said Matt Willhite, city council candidate.
No date has been set for the hand recount. First, the village will have to get a judge to order a recount.
The next city council meeting is two weeks from now. It's possible that the recount will take place by then.

Tuesday, May 1 2012, 02:34 PM EDT

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