UPDATE: The Baltimore Sun had this follow-up article today, but they quote the BOE saying the recount trigger is 2% rather than .1% (one tenth of one percent). That is a major difference. Hopefully a reader can explain? Secondly, the comments section to the Sun article, had a fascinating entry from someone purporting to be the former District 13 Councilmember Vernon Crider. Is he alleging impropriety in the voting results? His note, which references his own loss in 2007, reads:
As a former city councilman for the 13th district, this is "deja vu" all over again. Mr. Branch defeated me in 2007 after abseetee ballots were counted only by 51 votes. It is quite uncanny that this scenario will reappear. Im no longer involved in politics, but it is quite strange that this will reoccur with Mr. Branch. Too strange...
Go Mrs. Sneed! The people of the 13th are pulling for you!!
Posted by: vernon crider
Late last night we reported on
news of a potential recount in Baltimore City's District 13 Council race. The 15-vote margin separating incumbent Councilmember Warren Branch from challenger Shannon Sneed led to recount preparations from the campaigns' operatives. Note, for example, that Mr. Branch arrived at the Board of Elections for this morning's absentee canvass with a lawyer in tow. In our prior coverage, we explain some of
Maryland's recount laws and procedures, but now we are essentially waiting to see if the 15-vote margin narrows to within .1% of the total vote (ie: currently 4 votes).
A source with a direct line into the ongoing tallies at the Board of Elections reports fresh numbers in the District 13 race for Baltimore City Council.
The news is not good for Shannon Sneed.
