Posted on 11/08/2010 6:37:23 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
CORPUS CHRISTI — Republican and Democratic Party officials are preparing for a recount in the 27th Congressional District that could take weeks and cost thousands of dollars.
U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz on Monday asked supporters for $13,000 for the recount. He said in an e-mailed statement to supporters the money must be raised by midnight.
Meanwhile, Republicans worried the recount could hamper U.S. Rep.-elect Blake Farenthold’s transition into office.
Following last week’s election, the Democratic congressman trailed Farenthold by 799 votes. The lead was reduced to 792 after a bag was discovered containing seven uncounted ballots, all in favor of Ortiz.
Citing reports of voting irregularities, Ortiz last week said he would request a manual recount. He also said provisional and overseas ballots could affect the race.
The Secretary of State’s Office has not received any reports of voting irregularities or allegations of fraud in the district, office spokesman Randall Dillard said.
County election officials around the district last week reported an estimated 736 uncounted overseas and provisional ballots, which would not give Ortiz the votes necessary to overtake Farenthold.
San Patricio County Election Administrator Pam Hill said provisional and overseas ballots were counted Monday, with Farenthold and Ortiz each gaining one vote. Provisional and overseas ballots are due to be counted Tuesday by other county ballot boards, with canvassing of all votes to follow no later than Nov. 15.
Farenthold spokesman Steve Ray said Farenthold continues meeting with grassroots organizations throughout the district as his campaign staff manages the recount process. But the longer the process takes the harder the transition will become, he said.
“Ortiz’s refusal to listen to the voters is unfair to this campaign and unfair to the people of this district,” Ray said. “It precludes us from conducting the business we’ve been elected to conduct.”
Sean Brown, spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, said Farenthold risks missing committee assignments while awaiting results of a recount.
“Although Blake is the congressman-elect, it is difficult to welcome him without the certificate of election,” he said. “He’s got the ring on his finger, but he hasn’t yet heard ‘I do.’”
After Ortiz’s recount petition is received, the Secretary of State’s Office must approve or deny it within 48 hours. If approved, the recount must begin within seven days, office spokeswoman Jordy Keith said.
She could not provide an estimate of how long the recount might take. Officials in each county would conduct the recount.
Ortiz spokesman Jose Borjon said a fund established by Ortiz and the state and national Democratic campaign committees would pay for the recount in accordance with state law.
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the cost of a recount is $60 per precinct where paper ballots are used and $100 per precinct where electronic ballots are used. The 27th District contains 236 precincts in six counties — Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, San Patricio and Willacy. More than half of precincts use electronic ballots.
We need to get this corrupt old b*stard out and keep him out. (At least we got rid of the son.)
Maybe she on her weekly sorties from DC to Napa she could switch from McCallan's Cask Strength to Johnny Red for a few weeks.
They would be half way there.
7 votes here, 7 votes there..pretty soon you’ve got 10,000.
There aren’t enough provisional and overseas votes outstanding to swing the election. The only way Ortiz can win is to cheat.
You say that as if that is not already Plan B.
;)
This is why we need volunteers from the counties represented in TX-27 to prevent Ortiz from stealing the election.
He needs that much time to manufacture more votes to steal the election.
I just find it surprising that his putz has to go hat in hand to his supporters for $13K, which is chump change for these guys.
I'll tell ya, Rick Spruill really has a sly sense of humor.
From what I've heard maybe 10% of provisional votes ever get counted. Even if every provisional vote went to Ortiz, very few would be added to his vote total.
Especially his Chinese friends.
Amazing how all the "found" votes just happen to all be for Ortiz.
Why do you think it is going to the courts/recount?
Why is this guy being allowed to recount until he wins?
Hey - it worked in King County (WA) last time around... if it worked there, it will work anywhere a judge is willing to go along with the scheme...
And that's exactly what he intends to do.
I guess it goes without saying that this scumbag Ortiz has absolutely no class.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.