Concession trumps recount

One Sarasota County election race was so close that an immediate recount was ordered. However, the day after the election, the recount was called off, because one candidate conceded.

The Republican primary race for Charter Review Board District 3 involved three candidates: incumbent Adam Miller, Kathy Bolam, of Venice, and Dawn Moore, of Englewood.

At the end of Election Night, Miller had collected 17,857 votes, or 38.7%, Bolam had 17,706 votes, or 38.4%, and Moore got 10,562 votes, or 22.9%.

Because just less than 0.5% separated Miller and Bolam, state law called for a recount.

Section 102.141 of the Florida statutes states: “If the unofficial returns reflect that a candidate for any office was defeated or eliminated by one-half of a percent or less of the votes cast for such office … a recount shall be ordered of the votes cast with respect to such office.”

But the law goes on to say: “A recount need not be ordered with respect to the returns for any office, however, if the candidate or candidates defeated … request in writing that a recount not be made.”

And that is what happened in this instance. After discussing the election Aug. 25 with Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent, Bolam decided to concede the race, and Miller was declared the official winner of his second term on the board.

“(Dent) said the recount goes through the same machines again, and it was unlikely I would gain more than 10 to 15 votes,” said Bolam. “Why beat a dead horse? I can still go to the board meetings and suggest ideas. I just can’t vote.”

Miller, an attorney, ran on a platform saying he didn’t feel the county charter needed changes. But he said he was open to any ideas that may improve the community.

He said his background in law and economics made him the best candidate for the job.