Recount Commission Reaffirms Vote Totals

Starke County IT Director Joe Short, Democrat James A. Henriott and Republican Marilyn Folkers review vote totals in the two races in which challenges were filed.
Starke County IT Director Joe Short, Democrat James A. Henriott and Republican Marilyn Folkers review vote totals in the two races in which challenges were filed.

The three-member commission charged with reviewing vote totals in two close Starke County races found no discrepancies in either contest. The certificate they will file with the Starke County Clerk’s office finds Democrat Pamela Stalbaum beat Republican Don White by two votes in the fourth district county council race. By the numbers, Stalbaum got 707 votes to White’s 705 for the seat currently held by Marvin McLaughlin.

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Starke County IT Director Joe Short and Democrat James A. Henriott sort through absentee ballots.

The fourth county council district includes Wayne and Railroad Townships, so the same three-member panel reviewed the contest between incumbent Railroad Township Trustee Roger Chaffins, Sr. and Republican challenger Mandy Thompson. Their recount found that she edged him by three votes, 170 to 167.

More information about the law pertaining to recounts can be found here: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/incode/3/12/6/3-12-6-22.5