Pend Oreille Race Headed For Recount

Thu., Nov. 16, 2000

From Staff Reports

Pend Oreille County Commissioner Mike Hanson appears to have stitched up a threadbare election victory over challenger Michael Quick, but a mandatory recount could still poke a hole in it.

Republican Hanson retained a 15-vote lead, 2,555 to 2,540, over Democrat Quick when three dozen more absentee ballots were counted Wednesday. The outcome is unlikely to change when the election is certified, but a mandatory recount likely will be required because the margin is less than one-half of one percent.

Only 10 ballots remain uncounted to ensure the anonymity of any additional ballots that may arrive before the election is certified Wednesday. Unless more ballots arrive with valid postmarks and Hanson wins nearly all of them, a recount will be required.

Election officials say the recount likely would occur Nov. 27, when state officials tentatively are calling for a recount in the U.S. Senate race between Slade Gorton and Maria Cantwell and the secretary of state race between Don Bonker and Sam Reed.

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