The books are almost closed on the Special Election in SD 35. Almost 300 votes stand between conservative Diane Harkey and a seat in the California legislature. Assemblyman Tom Harman is sitting in an enviable position – especially when you consider that only 600 or so provisional ballot stand left to counted.
Nevertheless, if you took a vote here on the public side of the counter at the Registrar, Harkey would win overwhelmingly. There are about 30 Harkey volunteers here led by Scott Hart, Jimmy Camp, Adam Probolsky and former FEC member/elections attorney extraordinairre Daryll Wold.
The Harman folks, all five of them, are led up by Duane Dichiara, Jen Jacobs and former FPPC commissioner/legal beagle Ben Davidian.
Of course, the outcome is more or less assured today. I’ve been doing this stuff for too long.
But my counsel to Team Harkey will be to look into a recount. Recounts are never bad because they just provide a microscope to the process. Will it change the outcome? Probably not. But it will give peace of mind to thousands of Harkey supports who will want to know that every avenue was persued in ensuring that all was counted properly.
That said, what better of a cause for this blogger to burn a vacation day from the office.
There’s Jean Pasco, Ace political reporter from the LA Times…Probolsky and Dichiara are shamelessly trying to get a quote.
We’ll update you more when there is more (undoubtedly predictable) news.
April 13th, 2006 at 12:00 am
A recount? I thought Fleischman was all fiscal conservative and anti-government spending. I guess that all goes out the window when it comes to proving a political point! The San Diego County guy said a recount would cost thousands of dollars a day. I’m sure its the same in OC. I guess its goverment money well spent if its for the candidate the blog endorsed!
April 13th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Nate, buddy, just to give you a heads up, the candidate who requests the recount has to reimburse the county for the full cost.
Flash