Several hours after losing his commission seat via a coin flip, a Salina City Commissioner has requested a recount of the votes.
Following last Tuesday’s election, incumbent commissioner Randall Hardy lead Joe Hay Jr. for the third and final open commission seat by just a single vote, 2,136 to 2,135.
Saline County Commissioners met Monday morning to finalize the election, which meant looking at a group of provisional ballots to determine if they should be counted. The commission determined that 33 provisional ballots could be counted. After those ballots were counted the race was a tie, 2,141 to 2,141.
Saline County Clerk Don Merriman said that a coin toss would decide it.
Randall Hardy was in the room. Joe Hay was not, but his wife and son were. Hay’s son stood-in, and represented him.
As Saline County Commission Chairman Monte Shadwick tossed a quarter into the air, Hardy called tails. The coin bounced onto a table, then off it. It ended up heads, giving Hay the victory and two-year term.
Hardy had the option of asking for a recount. He had until 5:00 Tuesday evening to turn in a letter, asking for a recount. A letter requesting the recount was turned in Monday afternoon.
Merriman says that the recount will probably happen on Wednesday.
As it stands now, Hay will be sworn in as a Salina City Commissioner next Monday, April 20th.
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ORIGINAL:
It came down to a coin toss. Joe Hay won the third seat on the Salina City Commission, a two-year term, following a coin flip Monday morning.
Incumbent commissioner Randall Hardy lead Joe Hay Jr. by just a single vote, 2,136 to 2,135, going into a vote canvass. Saline County Commissioners determined that 33 provisional ballots could be counted. After those ballots were counted the race was a tie, 2,141 to 2,141.
Saline County Clerk Don Merriman said that a coin toss would decide it.
Randall Hardy was in the room. Joe Hay was not, but his wife and son were. Hay’s son stood-in, and represented him.
As Saline County Commission Chairman Monte Shadwick tossed a quarter into the air, Hardy called tails. The coin bounced onto a table, then off it. It came up heads, giving Hay the victory and two-year term.
Merriman says that Hardy can ask for a recount. He has until 5:00 Tuesday evening to do so. Hardy would have to pay for the recount, which would probably cost about $100. But if he would win the money would be refunded.
Hay will be sworn in as a Salina City Commissioner next Monday, April 20th.
