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Local News

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Starn still leads in judge race
LaRiche Toyota-Subaru
By J. STEVEN DILLON

STAFF WRITER

A recount has been scheduled May 28 in the race for Findlay Municipal Court judge with 16 votes still separating the top two Republican candidates.

Hancock County Board of Elections Director Jody O'Brien said Jonathan Starn's margin of victory over Donald Rasmussen didn't change after provisional ballots were tallied Monday. "The difference remains at 16," she said.

O'Brien said the May 5 primary election vote was certified Monday morning after the provisional count and official vote canvass were conducted.

But an automatic recount is now required in the judge race because the final margin is less than one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast in the contest.

With no Democratic or independent candidate for judge, the eventual winner of the Republican primary will face no opponent in November. He will succeed Judge Kevin Smith, who did not seek re-election.

O'Brien said about 60 provisional ballots were verified by elections officials since the election. An additional 10 provisionals were thrown out because the person casting the ballot on election day failed to bring identification to the elections board within 10 days of the election.

A provisional ballot is no different than a regular ballot, except it cannot be counted until election officials have verified the voter's eligibility.

O'Brien said there were also several absentee ballots counted Monday. Those ballots had a postmark of May 2, the deadline for absentee ballots, but didn't arrive at the Board of Elections until after that date and thus could not be counted until Monday.

O'Brien did not have an exact breakdown of provisional or absentee vote totals for Starn and Rasmussen, but said each candidate received the same number of "new" votes.

Some provisional ballots, she said, were "issue only" ballots, where the voter could not cast a vote for judge.



Recount ahead

The upcoming recount will involve a sampling of the ballots from election night. Election officials will take a 275-vote sample of ballots from randomly selected precincts.

Those 275 ballots will then be recounted. If the recount figure is within three votes of the election night total for those precincts, the recount will end.

However, if there is more than a three-vote difference between the election night count and the recount figure, then the process will be repeated with another sampling of 275 votes from other precincts.

If there is also more than a three-vote difference in the second sampling, then all the remaining precincts would be recounted, O'Brien said.

Dillon: 419-427-8423,

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  LATEST COMMENTS Last 10 comments submitted by our readers...
Mark wrote in article "Officials say stuck cars may be towed":
Snow, snow and more snow
“ We should all know by now, it's going to snow, but you know, people still want to go when we all know we better not go. ” Read More...
2/9/2010 2:47:48 PM
tim wrote in article "Officials say stuck cars may be towed":
Kyle....It's another story
“ This was definately a City of Findlay plow. Just wondering.... ” Read More...
2/9/2010 2:45:32 PM
A wrote in article "Sheriff reminds motorists of road level advisories":
Thank You!
“ I would like to thank all those involved in the city and county who are trying very hard to make the best of a bad storm. Yes,... ” Read More...
2/9/2010 2:36:10 PM
Understanding wrote in article "Officials say stuck cars may be towed":
snow
“ I don't think the woman who complained that "too much snow had been piled at the end of her street, blocking her view" was in th... ” Read More...
2/9/2010 2:28:17 PM
Kyle wrote in article "Officials say stuck cars may be towed":
To Tim
“ It's a very good possibility that a plow with it's blade up was not a City of Findlay plow. Many people have their own plows and... ” Read More...
2/9/2010 1:17:57 PM
SNOW REMOVAL wrote in article "Officials say stuck cars may be towed":
SNOW REMOVAL
“ IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE SNOW REMOVAL CALL MIKE (419) 236-9474...NO NEED TO PICK UP A SHOVEL OR CRANK UP THE SNOWBLOWER... ” Read More...
2/9/2010 12:42:55 PM
HLB wrote in article "Officials say stuck cars may be towed":
That's really sad...
“ You know, people are rude enough most of the time in this city and this last storm when random folks pulled together and I saw t... ” Read More...
2/9/2010 12:32:18 PM
rob wrote in article "Officials say stuck cars may be towed":
pile of snow
“ I cannot believe someone would call up and complain that a pile of snnow was blocking their view. What is this world coming to.... ” Read More...
2/9/2010 11:38:49 AM
tim wrote in article "Officials say stuck cars may be towed":
put the blades down this time
“ Can someone please tell me why I see and saw several snowplows driving down streets that needed plowed with the blades up? ” Read More...
2/9/2010 10:39:25 AM
Jimbo wrote in article "Sheriff reminds motorists of road level advisories":
To Debbie..
“ I want to express that I understand where you are going with your post, but be practical. If a level 3 is called, that means no... ” Read More...
2/9/2010 10:35:28 AM
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News Briefs D.C. trip delayed
A trip to Washington, D.C. that Findlay and Ottawa officials were planning to make this week has been postponed because of the inclement weather.

Findlay Mayor Pete Sehnert said officials have rescheduled the trip for Feb. 23 to meet with a lobbying group and congressional representatives regarding federal spending on flood control projects.

Fostoria requires clearing sidewalks
FOSTORIA -- Fostoria residents are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks within 12 hours of a storm, according to police Capt. Patrick Brooks.

The city code covers residential owners or tenants, and business owners of properties which abut a sidewalk.

An offense is a minor misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $100. Each day constitutes a separate offense.

Library in Forest reschedules event
FOREST -- Because of the expected inclement weather, the Forest-Jackson Public Library has rescheduled its Valentine luncheon planned for Thursday to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.

Reservations are required. Anyone with questions can call the library at 419-273-2400.

Disc golf tourney set for Saturday
The Ray Heverling Charity Ice Bowl Tournament has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Riverbend Recreation Area, off Ohio 568 east of Findlay.

Registration begins at noon.

The tournament was canceled last Saturday because of a snowstorm.

The Disc Golf Community Association, in cooperation with the Hancock Park District, sponsors the event. Proceeds go to the Family Center of Findlay-Hancock County.

For more information contact Nathan Buck at p_nate@thecatalystcc.com or 419-306-7405. Entry fee is $20. Additional donations are accepted.

Housing Authority meeting postponed
Because of an expected winter storm this week, the Hancock Metropolitan Housing Authority has canceled its regular board meeting scheduled for Thursday. It will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Family Center.

Fostoria library to close Monday
FOSTORIA -- Kaubisch Memorial Public Library will be closed Monday, Feb. 15, in observance of Presidents Day.

Crime Of The Week
Findlay/Hancock County Crime Stoppers is looking for information about a break-in at the Arlington Pharmacy, 200 Main St., at 12:51 a.m. Dec. 28.

A glass pane in the front door of the business was shattered, and entry was made. Once inside, the perpetrators took prescription medications and fled on foot.

Two white males were seen running from the business. The males were possibly in their late teens to early 20s, and possibly entered a vehicle.

People with information about this or any other crime that would lead to an arrest or indictment will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Crime Stoppers can be called weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 419-425-TIPS or 419-425-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.

The Web site is www.hancockcrimestoppers.org.