Seven votes makes the difference.
A recount of ballots today confirmed that County Court-at-Law No. 9 Judge Oscar Kazen will serve a single term after all, and will be replaced next year by political newcomer Laura Salinas.
“‘Landslide Laura’ wins by seven votes,” Salinas joked following the recount.
Out of about 35,000 votes cast, she got seven more votes than Kazen in the March 7 Democratic primary. Because there is no Republican candidate for the bench, Salinas is virtually assured to become the next judge for that court.
“The ballots really were very clean,” Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said. “I think (the recount) put everybody’s mind at ease.”
[…]
Kazen, whose family has been steeped in South Texas politics, held a dozen-vote lead over Salinas on election night. But that evaporated when mail-in and provisional ballots were counted six days later; Salinas came out on top by one vote.
A tally of overseas ballots last week increased the 34-year-old family and criminal law attorney’s lead to six votes. The recount added one more to her total.
Seven lousy votes. Remember that the next time someone tells you that it just doesn’t matter. For more background, see The Jeffersonian, Just Another Matt, and Larry for the Lege.
In other recount news, Carter Casteel’s deficit is now fifty-one votes, with two counties still to be re-done. That was always a longshot, but again, with such a small difference, you have to doublecheck. And you know, once again, every vote counts. Link via BOR.
On an unrelated note, I fully expected the Dems to lose State Sen. Ken Armbrister’s seat this November. I just didn’t expect it to happen by forfeit. Cripes. Link via PinkDome.
You could also mention the Pasadena city council race. It was a one vote win for Stanley on election night. When mail-in ballot and provisional ballots were counted it ended up a tie.
On the runoff it was again a win for Stanley until mail-in and provisional votes converted it to a two vote win for Harrison.
Taking it to court because of some of the mail-in ballots it has twice now been ruled a win for Stanley. Harrison is keeping his seat until appeals are final. It is expected to be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court.
I was involved with the campaign and the runoff and you had the coulda, and shoulda, experiences. On the first election one person only voted because she was driven to the polls by a volunteer. When asked about it on the way back she said her husband had convinced her to vote for the other guy! We had someone else we called and were going to drive to the polls but she said she would go later and never showed up after disappearing.
Every vote can count.