Palmer?s vote count unchanged following recount
A recount of the 313 ballots cast in the City of Onaway revealed no change in the election night results of November 7.
Longtime Onaway City Commissioner Bernie Schmeltzer and Jerry Robinson, a former city representative of the board, will both continue serving two-year terms. They immediately took office and have attended two regular commission meetings.
The recount by the county board of canvassers, the first in a decade and a half, did not end up with the results incumbent Jessie Palmer had hoped.
Originally, Robinson edged Palmer November 7, 162 to 158. Schmeltzer had 213 votes and easily won re-election. With the results as close as they were, Palmer filed a petition last month to have the votes recounted.
The recount revealed additional votes for Robinson and Schmeltzer, but none were added to Palmer?s tally.
THE BOARD of Canvassers went over each ballot. Robinson picked up two additional votes (164), while Schmeltzer added three to his total (216). Palmer?s total remained unchanged at 158.
All the parties kept their own separate tallies on note pads to see if the numbers would correspond with the Board of Canvassers.
There were three restarts by the four-member board, which consisted of Janet Lamb, Bonnie Farmer, Marilyn Sinclair, and Patricia Gabrysiak, before they were comfortable with the method. The group ultimately decided to count only the votes cast for Robinson and Palmer and later counted the votes cast for Schmeltzer. The recount was conducted December 8 at the Presque Isle County Courthouse.
After the second official recount, Lamb commented that the numbers coincided. Moments later, Palmer conceded. That was followed by a handshake by the candidates.
?With the results being as close as they were I felt it in the best interest of the voters to ensure that the results from the computer were accurate,? stated Palmer. ?With the recount being done everyone can have the piece of mind that the results were accurate.?
FOLLOWING THE recount, Robinson said he wanted to work with the commission and city manager to move the c
He added ?voters made it clear that they were looking for change.?
On 50 of the ballots cast, Robinson was the only candidate to receive a vote. To that, he said, ?People wanted to make sure I got a seat. I will do my very best.?
During the recount, county clerk Sue Rhode noted that some of the ballots had been lightly penciled in.
There also was a write-in cast with the Accuvote machine with only the last name ?Omlett? typed in. The vote may have been cast in response to a radio promotion.
Rhode also said that someone had walked out of the polling place with the ballot.