From staff reports
news@joplinglobe.com
As Crawford County, Kan., officials wrapped up a third and possibly final vote recount in the county attorney’s race, those in McDonald County, Mo., are preparing for a recount in the sheriff’s race.
Nearly two weeks after the Nov. 4 election, Frontenac Republican Michael Gayoso Jr. was declared the winner in the Crawford County attorney’s race. The results of a hand count on Saturday were certified Monday by the county commissioners sitting as the board of canvassers.
Gayoso received 7,828 votes, 35 more than incumbent John Gutierrez, a Democrat from Cherokee, who had 7,793 votes.
“Those are the finals for the county,” said County Clerk Don Pyle. “There are no more options for a recount of any kind.”
If Gutierrez wants to challenge the results, he will have to go to district court, Pyle said.
Saturday’s hand count was requested and paid for by Gutierrez, who had pulled to within 14 votes of Gayoso after a second machine count. That count was requested after programming errors skewed the first set of results.
“We’re very pleased with the results,” said Gayoso. “Obviously, we’re looking forward to the transition period to try to get our staff and attorneys lined up. We want this transition to go smoothly.”
The transition takes place Jan. 12.
Gutierrez could not be reached for comment, but he issued a statement Monday that said in part: “It has been an honor to serve the people of Crawford County for the last 13 years as a deputy prosecutor and as the county attorney.”
He cited successes during his tenure, including that “no murders were left unpunished,” and that more than 20 methamphetamine manufacturers and several sex offenders are “serving long prison sentences.”
In McDonald County, meanwhile, officials today are expected to discuss the details of a recount in the sheriff’s race after Robert Evenson eked out an 18-vote victory over Gregg Sweeten.
Evenson, 37, is a former sheriff in the county who lost a re-election bid to Republican Don Schlessman in 2004. Schlessman decided not to seek re-election this year, and Sweeten, his 43-year-old chief deputy, ran on the Republican ticket.
Evenson, a Democrat who has been working as a detective for the Barry County Sheriff’s Department, managed 3,974 votes to Sweeten’s 3,956 in the Nov. 4 election.
Sweeten last week filed for a recount in McDonald County Circuit Court. Circuit Judge Tim Perigo ruled that a recount would take place and gave each candidate until 10 a.m. today to submit a list of five registered voters to assist with the count. Perigo will select an equal number from each list.
McDonald County Clerk Barbara Williams said she and the judge today will likely talk about precisely when and how the recount will be conducted.
Evenson said he did not expect a recount to alter the outcome of the election, but that he is delaying in-depth plans for the transition pending the final outcome.
Globe Metro Editor Andy Ostmeyer and Assistant Metro Editor Derek Spellman contributed to this report.
Cost still out
There will be a cost for the recount, McDonald County Clerk Barbara Williams said, but it will not be assessed to Gregg Sweeten, who sought the recount. The cost will depend on how many people are brought in to conduct the recount and how long it takes, she said.
Phone messages left for Sweeten were not returned.
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