RECOUNT LIKELY IN COMMISSIONER'S RACE

JACKSON -- Max Stovall, who lost a race for 2nd District associate commissioner last week by a narrow margin, has asked Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller for a recount.

Stovall lost to Republican Joe Gambill by 39 votes out of a total of 11,489 that were cast.

Miller said he received Stovall's formal request Monday and hopes to conduct a recount next week.

State law allows candidates to request a recount without having to pay costs, if the margin is less than 1 percent. Miller said he is seeking authorization from the secretary of state's office to conduct the count.

Cape County uses a punch-card voter system, and election returns are compiled by computer. That makes it highly unlikely that a recount would change the outcome, Miller said.

"Under the law, he is entitled to a recount. It is a close race and within the margin to have one conducted," Miller explained.

Stovall said he realizes the chances of the outcome changing are slim, but because of the close vote he wants to be sure.

"I think there is a possibility it could change," said Stovall. "I don't think anything illegal was done, but there could have been errors. It only takes three vote changes per precinct to overturn it, and I would just like to check it.

"It probably won't change anything, but it may make me feel better."

The 2nd District includes all of the wards in the city of Cape Girardeau except for Ward 17.

Miller said four election judges will open the boxes from each precinct and rerun every ballot through the computer twice.

The 2nd District position is held by Republican E.C. Younghouse, who did not seek re-election this year.