BULLOCK FEELS RECOUNT COSTLY AND UNNECESSARY

Thad Bullock, the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 8th District, said Monday he thinks a recount of his 211-vote win is an "absurd" idea.

James "Jay" Thompson of Bourbon, the candidate who finished second to Bullock in the primary last week, said Friday he will request a recount by the secretary of state's office because the "election is too close to let go."

Since Bullock's margin was less than 1 percent, a recount is automatic if Thompson requests it. Because of the closeness of the final vote, the state would pay costs of conducting the recount.

But Bullock, a retired Cape Girardeau businessman, said Monday that taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for recount that could just as easily widen his margin of victory.

"I feel that the recount is uncalled for," he said. "He states a candidate is entitled to this and that it's free. It's free to him, but it isn't free to the taxpayers.

"He says there will be a recount," Bullock added. "That's very time-consuming and there's certainly a cost to the taxpayers. I find it, more or less, absurd."

Bullock said that throughout the campaign he stressed the need to elect a "responsible" candidate as the Democratic candidate for the 8th District.

"All during the campaign, at the rallies, my speeches contained the thought that I feel a responsible candidate should be elected," he said.

But Bullock indicated Thompson's request to use taxpayer money for a recount is irresponsible.

Thompson, who retired after a 20-year career in the Navy, said last week that some absentee ballots he sought from military people living and working overseas might not have been counted. The candidate said he also has heard of some possible irregularities in at least one county that needs to be investigated.

But Bullock said he doubted a recount would change the election results.

"I think there are two sides to every coin," he said. "If there were any irregularities whatsoever they might even decrease his vote total.

"There were a total of six contestants in the campaign, and five other totals may be incorrect.

"I wouldn't expect more than a dozen write-in and absentee ballots would surface. If that were the case, I would expect maybe more than anybody else. In other words, my total might even increase.

"I just don't think a recount is necessary. If it decreased me down to winning by one vote, an inch is as good as a mile."

Bullock finished first among six candidates in last week's primary. Other candidates included Shannon Russell of Gideon, Jon Kiser of Piedmont, Dean Burk of DeSoto, and Johnny Dover of Bell City.

U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, seeking his seventh term this year, easily defeated challenger Earl Durnell for the Republican nomination.