August 24, 2004: Headlines: COS - El Salvador: Politics: Election2004 - Kefalas: The Coloradoan: El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas holds seven-vote lead in Colorado Democratic Primary

Peace Corps Online: Directory: El Salvador: Special Report: El Salvador RPCV and Political Activist John Kefalas: August 24, 2004: Headlines: COS - El Salvador: Politics: Election2004 - Kefalas: The Coloradoan: El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas holds seven-vote lead in Colorado Democratic Primary

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-239-147.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.239.147) on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 8:43 pm: Edit Post

El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas holds seven-vote lead in Colorado Democratic Primary

El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas holds seven-vote lead in Colorado Democratic Primary

El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas holds seven-vote lead in Colorado Democratic Primary

Recount looms in District 52

By MATTHEW BENSON
MattBenson@coloradoan.com

Where it stands

# John Kefalas holds a seven-vote lead over Bill Bertschy

# Recount will be conducted as early as Monday.

# The county's November ballot must be certified by Sept. 8.

2004 ELECTIONS »
For more coverage, please visit our 2004 Elections section.
With all remaining ballots counted, John Kefalas has widened his lead to seven votes in the Democratic primary election for state House District 52.

A recount appears imminent and likely will be conducted Monday.

The outcome of the race has been in doubt since polls closed on the Aug. 10 primary and results showed Kefalas with a scant two-vote lead over Democratic rival Bill Bertschy.

Additional results released Monday by Larimer County showed Kefalas stretching his lead by an additional five votes.

The county now has examined and counted the primary's remaining 287 provisional and absentee ballots. Fifteen of the ballots weighed in to the District 52 Democratic primary, with Kefalas claiming 10 and Bertschy 5.

The election should be certified today or Wednesday. Kefalas has 2,326 votes, topping Bertschy's 2,319.

"I'm pleased with the results," said Kefalas, a longtime community activist and former lobbyist for Catholic Charities Northern. "There's going to be a recount and all that, but I feel the seven-vote margin is pretty solid."

Bertschy agreed it appears unlikely a recount would swing the result by that many votes.

"That would be a lot to change," said the Fort Collins city councilman. "I wish the margin would have been a little bit tighter."

Under state law, a recount is required if the margin between candidates is less than or equal to half of 1 percent of the votes for the top vote-getter in the race. In this case, that threshold would be a little more than a dozen votes.

Kefalas and Bertschy are competing to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Bob McCluskey in the Nov. 2 general election.

Hoping to maintain momentum and support, the Democrats have campaigned together as they await the results of their primary.

Waiting two weeks for those results has been an exercise in frustration, Bertschy said, and one that he's looking forward to ending -- no matter the outcome.

"I really would like to see some closure to this," he said.

The Secretary of State's Office has until Sept. 1 to call for a recount, but Larimer County Clerk and Recorder Scott Doyle said he expects one sooner than that. The county is gearing up for a Monday recount, which would involve re-running the ballots through the machines.

Either political party or candidate could request a hand recount, but that could only be ordered by Secretary of State Donetta Davidson. The county's November ballot must be certified by Sept. 8.

Originally published Tuesday, August 24, 2004





When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 This Month's Issue: August 2004
Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny?

Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts."

In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.


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Story Source: The Coloradoan

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - El Salvador; Politics; Election2004 - Kefalas

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