According to their press release, Marilyn Lewis, a candidate for the Jackson City Council has requested a recount of the ballots cast in the City of Jackson for members of the City Council.  Lewis filed her request timely under the California Elections Code following the certification of the election by the Amador County Registrar of Voters on December 5, 2006. The recount will commence on Monday, December 11, 2006 at 9 AM in the Amador County Elections Office, 810 Court Street, Jackson.  Based upon this information the City of Jackson has ordered a special meeting for tomorrow, Wednesday December 6th at 2 pm at the Jackson Civic Center.

The meeting was scheduled as a meeting to reschedule the December 11th meeting to December 12th to allow for ample time to certify their election results. Today at the Board of Supervisors meeting the Board certified all election results with the exception of the city of Jackson. Jackson City Manager Mike Daly said, “due to the fact that the election was not certified today and will likely be certified at the next Board of Supervisor’s meeting December 12th, the council will be considering tomorrow whether to move the meeting from Monday to Tuesday night so that the traditional first meeting in December council transition can take place.” While the recount is in limbo newly elected council members can not be sworn in.  

According to the letter Lewis sent December 4th to Sheldon Johnson, Amador County’s Election’s Official, she requested that the Elections Department, “please make available those ballots stolen or taken from the elections officials as well as all other relevant materials concerning any of those ballots, if any were voted in election.” Lewis was referring to a car that was stolen from downtown Jackson from a poll worker that had ballots for Jackson Library precinct. Lewis clarifies that the language she used in her letter is that language required by law when asking for such a recount. The Elections Department explained that in order for this to occur a recount must be completed, and made available to all other Jackson City candidates. Lewis said, “I want to verify that the ballots that were stolen are all accounted for and were not used to vote.

When those ballots were recovered they (the elections department) looked at the first number of the packet and then the last number to see if they were all there. Well, I want to see them in between.” Lewis also added, “To have a car stolen that had ballots in it the night before the election is odd. I just want to verify that they are all accounted for.” According to Election Dept. Officials this will not be free for Lewis, as the requesting candidate she will be required to pay the $88 per person fee, and 4 people are needed for such a process therefore the cost is $352.