15 Vote Margin in Judge's Race; Recount Coming

Talk about close. A local sitting judge was up by just 18 votes after preliminary election night totals. After the addition of some provisional and absentee ballots, the judge is down by 15 votes. A recount is on the way.

Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Richard Wennet is being challenged by local lawyer William Abramson. Thursday the two candidates attended the meeting of the county's canvassing board.

The panel, consisting of two county commissioners and a county court judge, reviewed some 200 provisional and absentee ballots cast in the election. The ballots deemed legitimate by the canvassing board were then added to countywide vote totals.

In the race between Wennet and Abramson, those additional votes caused a change in leadership. Abramson now has 45,371 votes, just 15 more than the incumbent Wennet's 45,356. There are still four more ballots under consideration by the canvassing board.

Under state law, a difference of one half of one percentage point between candidates means an automatic machine recount. A margin of one fourth of one percent, a hand recount is required. Both recounts are expected in this race. The state election board must officially okay recounts. That panel meets Friday.

"I don't think anybody expected something like this," exclaimed candidate Abramson. "I mean this is 15 votes out of 90-plus-thousand votes. I don't think anyone would have seen this coming."

Judge Wennet declined comment, other than to say he thought it was an interesting process.