From Deseret News archives:
3 election recounts in Salt Lake County don't change the results
The recount helped Rep. Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, who gained a vote in the District 49 race against Democrat Jay Seegmiller. The results of that race had fluctuated since Election Day. On Nov. 7, Curtis was up 46 votes, and last week the board of canvassers certified a 19-vote lead. After Tuesday's recount, Curtis secured a 20-vote win.
The win secures Curtis' spot as speaker of the Utah House. Curtis attributed the slim margin of victory to a nationwide frustration with Republicans, as well as a disconnect with district voters over issues such as education funding.
"I think I have some constituents that are frustrated with me," Curtis said. "I just need to spend some time connecting with the constituents in Sandy."
He said his support of a soccer stadium for Real Salt Lake in Sandy did not hurt his re-election bid.
The nail-biter loss to Curtis is the second for Seegmiller. When asked if he would run again in two years, he said, "It's a possibility. It will depend on what's going on in my life in a couple of years."
"It was fun while it lasted," Seegmiller said. "I tried to tell people it was going to be close again this time, but nobody really believed me until the polls came out."
The results in the District 45 race remained the same, with incumbent Mark Walker beating Democrat Laura Black by 18 votes. Walker received 50.09 percent of the vote, with Black pulling 49.86 percent.
Jordan Board of Education incumbent Lynette Phillips lost one vote in the recount. Phillips garnered 3,931 votes, or 49.75 percent of the total cast, and Tracy Scott Cowdell received 3,944 votes, or 49.92 percent.
Cowdell praised Phillips' service on the board and her well-run race. But he said he has great faith in the recount results.
"In my view, the election is final," Cowdell said. "I am now preparing to take my place on the board and look forward to making a contribution."
The results won't be official until the board of canvassers certifies it on Tuesday. Before then, the clerk's office must audit the recount results.
An audit will start today to compare the paper receipts printed by about 5 percent of the electronic voting machines used in the election with the computer memory cards from the machines. The audit will probably take a couple of days, County Clerk Sherrie Swensen said
Defeated candidates have up to seven days to submit a written request for a recount. Three in Salt Lake County were eligible because they lost by fewer than one vote per precinct.
Contributing: Jennifer Toomer-Cook
E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com
