FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2010
Contact: Matt Dunlap
207-626-8400

Secretary of State’s Office Receives Six Candidate Recount Requests and a Statewide Recount Request on Question 1

AUGUSTA- Six candidates for public office have submitted requests for recounts of ballots cast in their respective races on Tuesday, November 2. Additionally, casino opponents have submitted 153 signatures of voters who purportedly voted on November 2nd, in order to request a statewide recount on Question 1, An Act to Allow a Casino in Oxford County. The Secretary of State must still determine whether there are at least 100 signatures of voters who cast a ballot on Election Day. The deadline to request a recount was 5:00 p.m. today.

The following candidate recounts have been requested:

State Senate District 7 - Joseph C. Palmieri, the Republican candidate has requested a recount in the race against incumbent State Senator Lawrence Bliss, a Democrat from South Portland. Unofficial preliminary results indicate Bliss prevailed, 9,163 votes to 9,097 votes.

This recount has been scheduled at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 12, 2010, at the Maine Department of Public Safety complex, located at 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta, Maine.

State House District 37 - Madeleine Gay Leach, the Republican candidate has requested a recount in the race against Democrat Ralph Chapman of Brooksville. Unofficial preliminary results indicate Chapman prevailed, 2,260 votes to 2,228 votes.

State House District 109 - Gary C. Foster, the Republican candidate has requested a recount in the race against Democrat Anne P. Graham. Unofficial preliminary results indicate Graham prevailed, 2,138 votes to 2,100 votes.

State House District 131 – James D. Libby, the Republican candidate has requested a recount in the race against Democrat Robert M. Hunt. Unofficial preliminary results indicate Hunt prevailed, 2,094 votes to 2,058 votes.

District Attorney District 7 - Republican Matthew J. Foster of Ellsworth has requested a recount against Democrat Carletta M. Bassano of Ellsworth. Unofficial preliminary results indicate Bassano prevailed, 14,188 votes to 13,552 votes.

Waldo County Commissioner - Republican Donald P. Berry, Sr. of Belmont has requested a recount against Democrat Betty I. Johnson of Lincolnville. Unofficial preliminary results indicate Johnson prevailed, 2,887 votes to 2,879 votes.

Maine law governs the recount process and can be viewed at: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/21-A/title21-Ach0sec0.html. Specifically, Title 21-A sections 1(13), 696 and 737-A, refer to the recount and ballot counting laws. Link to view the information on Maine's recount rules.

The statewide recount for ballot question 1 will not begin until after all the candidate recounts have been concluded.

A complete schedule of recounts will be released when finalized.