Posted: 11/20/02

Daninger still wins by 20 votes

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

At the end of a long day on Thursday, a recount in the Forest Lake mayoral election turned up little difference than the results from Tuesday, Nov. 5.

When the recount was completed Thursday night, the final tally read: Ray Daninger 2336; Dick Tschida 2316; and Terry Smith 1407.

The election night count had given Daninger a 21-vote victory over Tschida, a former town board chair in the former township. Smith gained two votes from his Election Day total.

Tschida last week requested the recount, which began at 9 a.m. and concluded shortly before 7 p.m. with votes by the council canvassing board.

The lengthy process involved the hand counting of 7029 ballots cast in the city election last week. City Administrator Chip Robinson served as chief recount official with election judges and City Clerk Chantel Doirott assisting in the process.

The final step of the day was the canvassing board's certification of 185 challenged ballots. The challenged ballots were ballots that lacked one or both of the signatures of election judges on Election Day. Most were likely absentee ballots, city officials said.

Of the 185 challenged ballots, 182 came from the three precincts in the former township area of Forest Lake.

During its session as the canvassing board, the council voted 4-0 to accept the results of the recount of the challenged ballots in each of the five precincts. Council followed with a final vote, also 4-0 to certify the results of the Tuesday recount.

Voting in favor were Council members John Tom Lynch, Judy Bull, Bruce Carlson and Smith. Daninger did not take part in the council table discussion.

Officials from the Washington County Elections Division spent the day in Forest Lake and observed the entire process.

Daninger reaction

Daninger said later he was relieved that the recount process was finally over.

ìIím anxious to go to work,î the mayor said.

Daninger said he hoped the 2002 election took steps to provide more representation to people living in the former township. The election of Rick Ashbach, a former town board member, and Susan Young, who lives in the former township area, should help, Daninger said.

ìWeíve got the representation the people were looking for from the outer area,î the mayor said. ìWe want them to feel included.î

In looking at the election totals, Daninger said his showing in the three precincts of the former township were key in his win on Nov. 5. Although Tschida carried all three of the precincts, Daninger was able to pull in over 1300 votes in the area.

A former township resident himself, Daninger said he can relate to those who live there.

ìI have a feel for how they think,î Daninger said. ìIíve lived most of my family life out there and not in the city.î

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