RECOUNT AFFIRMS MOUSER'S VICTORY

A recount in Mississippi County didn't yield a conclusive winner in the Democratic primary contest for presiding commissioner. In Bollinger County, a recount didn't change results of Elwood Mouser's one-vote victory over Bill Fulton in the primary race for presiding commissioner.

Mississippi County Clerk Junior Delay said the recount Tuesday morning showed that former presiding commissioner Steve Ledbetter had 1,188 votes and incumbent Jim Blumenberg 1,186 votes.

However, an afternoon hearing on alleged voting irregularities wasn't resolved. Attorneys for both candidates will prepare legal briefs to be submitted to a circuit judge Monday.

In question are votes cast in Wilson City. In a primary election, voters are supposed to receive one ballot, but election judges in Wilson City accidentally gave voters requesting a Democratic ballot both the Democratic and U.S. Taxpayers ballots.

Blumenberg contends the mistake constitutes a voting irregularity, especially given the two-vote margin.

Ledbetter says everyone who requested a Democratic ballot received one, and the fact that they also got a U.S. Taxpayers ballot shouldn't affect the outcome of the Democratic primary.

In Bollinger County, Fulton, a challenger for the Republican nomination for presiding commissioner, had requested the recount of primary election votes after returns were counted election night.

Mouser, the incumbent, received 453 votes to Fulton's 452. A third contender, Bill Nitsch, received 184 votes.

The Bollinger County results were recounted by machine and by hand, "and it came out exactly the same," said Stephanie Seiler of the county clerk's office.

With the recount completed, Mouser will face Democrat Kenny Trentham in the Nov. 3 general election.