A candidate in the Town of Athabasca mayoral race requested a recount of the mayoral ballots cast in last Monday’s election.
On the night of the election, the first vote tallies released did not include the advanced polls.
Returning officer for the Town of Athabasca Melody Wolansky said the team counting the votes added the total number of votes together at the end of the night to come up with the final vote tally.
Both candidates Roger Morrill and George Hawryluk said they did not request a recount.
“Absolutely not,” Hawryluk responded when asked.
Calls to candidate Barbara Bell’s residence did not garner a response.
This morning at 10 a.m., Wolansky and four other town employees conducted a recount at the town office, which yielded the same results as the final count Monday night.
Roger Morrill received 402 votes, George Hawryluk received 260 votes and Barbara Bell received 129 votes.
Wolansky estimated that the cost to do the recount was $735.62.
“There are certain criteria,” Wolansky said regarding a candidate asking for a recount. “Usually recounts are requested because of close votes, but the scrutineer, in this case, felt they didn’t get answers.”
Wolansky said she did not want to elaborate out of respect for the candidate.
“If we can accommodate people, we would like to be transparent, and if they have any questions, we would like them to accommodate them,” she said. “I knew that the election was properly conducted; we have nothing to hide.”
