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Friday, November 7, 2014

TWO FREDERICK COUNTY RACES REMAIN TOO CLOSE TO CALL

George Wenschhof
Wow! If you ever wondered if your vote counts, there are two races in Frederick County, Maryland that remain too close to call after the first count of absentee ballots today.
County council district 1 race in Frederick County, Maryland tied after first absentee count – at 8,075 each between Republican Ellen Bartlett and Democrat Jerry Donald. Donald was 61 votes down on election night.
This is a pivotal race for Democrats in that a Bartlett win would give Republicans a super majority of the council 5-2 to work with Democrat county executive Jan Gardner.
A Donald win would make it a 4-3 Republican majority with at-large Republican elect council member Republican Bud Otis most likely becoming the swing vote. The other 3 Republican elect council members are Blaine Young supporters – Republican Blaine Young lost to Democrat Jan Gardner in the county executive race.
Many have questioned the ability of Ellen Bartlett (wife of ten term Republican congressman Roscoe Bartlett) to perform the duties of this position because of her age and her lack of knowledge of current events. Some have also questioned her residency, pointing to the family’s farm outside the state where she and her husband spend most of their time.
The other position still too close to call had Ken Kerr leading by a mere 4 votes over April Miller after election night for the last spot on the nonpartisan board of education race. He fell 66 votes behind April Miller after the first absentee count. However, there are enough votes outstanding to be counted that this race is not a done deal.
The next count of absentee/provisional ballots will be conducted next Wednesday November 12 by the Frederick County Board of Elections.
Stay tuned..

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