Oro-Medonte’s Ward 6 municipal election results remain unchanged following a recount requested by candidate Mikhaela Beerman.
Beerman finished just a handful of votes shy of winning a seat on township council, finishing four votes behind fellow Ward 6 candidate and victor Robert Young.
The Oct. 24 election results, which were confirmed by recount Nov. 16, show Young with 282 votes, Beerman with 278, and Ryan Robert Cardwell with 232 in the Ward 6 race.
Beerman requested the recount for several reasons, including the fact initial results were close, she said.
In a letter to council, Beerman stated that “many municipalities across Ontario” have policies triggering a recount after two candidates are less than 10 votes apart.
“While Oro-Medonte's election bylaw and the Municipal Elections Act do not require an automatic recount, I would like (to) request a recount for the position of Ward 6 Councillor, Oro-Medonte,” Beerman stated in her letter.
“I am making this request because of the lengthy wait times and delays at the polling stations in Ward 6 on election day, and because I, Mikhaela Beerman, and Ward 6 candidate, Robert Young, were four votes apart.”
Council approved the recount at their council meeting Nov. 9.
As per the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, council may pass a resolution requiring a recount of cast votes, for either all candidates or specific candidates running for council.
Beerman did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication of this article.
