Four ballots contested; two for each Jasper candidate
Four paper ballots have been contested in Jasper’s tie election.
Republican Mayor Terry Seitz and incumbent Democrat Wayne Schuetter tied at 1,856 votes each in the municipal election. On November 16, a challenge to the results was filed by Seitz’s attorneys David Brooks and Samantha DeWester.
As part of the challenge, Seitz asked for a recount which was completed Monday by six counters representing the two men. Stan Jochum, Melissa Osterman and John Schneider were Seitz’s selection and Janet Sendelweck, Jason Schmitt and Donna Schroeder were selected by Schuetter.
The six found four votes to contest, two for each candidate.
According to William Groth, the attorney representing Wayne Schuetter, one ballot was pulled due to it not being properly marked with the initials of both members of a travel board. When a travel board is requested, a team comprised of a Republican and Democrat brings the ballot to the voter. Once the voter is done with the ballot, it is certified with the initials of both members of the travel board. This ballot had only one member’s initials on it.
The three remaining ballots were pulled due to a selection having been erased and another selection made.
Legal representatives from both candidates will present their findings to the election recount committee Friday, December 18 at 11 a.m. at the Dubois County Commissioners Chambers at the county annex building.
According to recount committee member Art Nordhoff Jr., the committee has two choices for each ballot. They can throw the ballot out or accept it as it was counted.
The recount took about five hours for the six counters. After receiving instruction, the counters split into three teams comprised of representatives from each party. The teams examined the paper ballots for each precinct and would randomly point out an exception.
An exception occurs when a ballot is questioned for various reasons. The counters had Clerk Bridgette Jarboe make copies of the ballots to be included as exhibits in any future legal proceedings.
There were numerous exceptions filed by the counters representing Mayor Terry Seitz.
An example of an exhibit from the count today was one in which a voter asked for the travel board to come to her to allow her to vote but when they arrived, she declined to vote.
Other circumstances were questioned also but at the end, only the four ballots were officially contested.
On Friday, the recount committee can make a decision that will impact the outcome of the election.
The vote could sway to either candidate depending on the outcome of the recount committee’s meeting on Friday. But, it could remain a tie and go to the sitting council for a final decision before December 30.
Also, either candidate can appeal the recount committee’s decision leading to a decision being put in front of Daviess County Superior Court Judge Dean Sobecki.
Whether throwing out the four or just one each, is there any way this isn’t going to the sitting (outgoing) council as still a tie, for a decision? No way. Problem is – understand the law – that shouldn’t happen, at least not by the sitting council. It should go to the incoming (new) council, who will be in place for the next four years to work with the new mayor, and who would more likely render a decision for the better good of the city. Give them 10 days after January 1, the current mayor remains in office until that time (as he would in another scenario or two), and the new council decides. But NOT the current outgoing council. Bad law.
The way it has been explained to the media, the council can’t make a decision until the legal challenges are over. According to the state’s constitution, Mayor Seitz can remain in office after December 30. So the new council could make the final decision if all the challenges and appeals push the issue into 2016.