Recount Leaves Perry County Commission Race Tied
The recount is in and it is a tie in the Perry County Commission District Number One Race. What had been thought to be a one vote primary runoff win for challenger Donald Bennett over longtime incumbent Commissioner Albert Turner Jr., turned out to be a 398-398 dead heat.
Commissioner Turner's contest of the election was initially denied by Perry County Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Carlton Hogue (who is also probate judge) because it was not filed in a timely manner. However, the state executive committee subsequently found, while Turner’s formal contest of the election was filed after the state’s deadline, his recount request was properly submitted to the Perry County Probate Judge's office before the deadline.
To achieve the recount, ballots were run back through the county's tabulation equipment, along with a review of absentee and provisional ballots according to procedures established under Alabama law.
In a Facebook post, the Turner campaign maintains that irregularities occurred during the May 19 election. They claim during the initial recount, two ballots clearly indicating voter intent for Turner were rejected by local Hogue. A request for neutral third-party oversight was by Turner who alleges Hogue's perceived bias toward Bennett.
For now, th winner of the race remains unresolved pending the executive committee’s next action. Because there is no Republican on the November 3rd General Eection ballot, the winner of the Democratic Party primary will be the District One winner.
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