PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
November 19, 2002
LES FOSSEL WINNER IN SENATE DISTRICT 16
(AUGUSTA, ME) – A review of the disputed ballots Tuesday evening has shown that Les Fossel has won the Maine Senate District 16 election by at least five votes. Initial recount results proved to be inconclusive when the Democrats frivolously challenged a significant number of ballots that were cast for Mr. Fossel.
Initially Mr. Hall was ahead by nine votes with 165 contested ballots. That number of contested ballots was whittled down to 63 when both sides agreed to count 102 ballots where voter intent was mutually agreed upon, yielding an equal number of votes for both candidates.
Republican re-counters are confident that the remaining 63 ballots, when viewed objectively, yield a 14-vote margin for Mr. Fossel. By subtracting the initial nine-vote margin garnered to Democrat candidate Chris Hall after the first day of the recount, Mr. Fossel is left with a five-vote margin of victory.
Steve Lechner, attorney for Mr. Fossel, said, “It is clear, from everything we’ve seen over the course of the last two days, that Mr. Fossel has won this contest. After all of the votes are counted in this election, Mr. Fossel wins by at least five votes. It is time for Mr. Hall to concede the election.”
“It is time to put this political contest behind us and focus on the common problems and challenges of the people of Lincoln County and the state of Maine,” Mr. Fossel said.
The 63 ballots in question were categorized by re-counters to determine the nature of the objection. The attached spreadsheet details the votes in question.
“If the Democrats are unwilling to concede this election by the reality of the votes cast,” said Senator Mary Small (R-Bath), Senate Republican Leader, “they ought to at least agree to turn the disputed ballots over to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court for an advisory opinion. Such advisory opinions were issued in past contested House elections in 1965 and 1967.”