Recounts?/A New Day

In very small towns, you expect to see only a few votes separating candidates in municipal elections; you may even see that particular phenomenon in towns the size of Sheffield and Tuscumbia, but in Florence?

Yesterday's elections produced contests in Tuscumbia where the office was ostensibly decided by three/four votes. One of the two council seats up for grabs in Florence was decided by only six votes. As of yet, no recounts have been announced. If there is an error, it's usually in the hand counting of absentee votes...no matter what Hermon Graham recently said.

However, Alabama law requires an automatic recount in general elections where the outcome is initially decided by .5% or less of the total vote. The latter would include the two Tuscumbia and one Florence offices up for grabs. The former? We've been asked what is a "general election." First, it's not a primary. Second, some sources define it as a statewide ballot.

Our apologies that we're not savvy enough to say if the law requires recounts in these three elections or not. Our guess would be even if it does, the outcomes will not change.

Yet even if there are no automatic recounts, a defeated candidate may petition for a recount. We await...

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While it looks like the same ol' same ol' in Sheffield and Muscle Shoals, the towns of Tuscumbia and Florence have a chance to enter a new era. This is especially true of Florence where a new mayor and three new council members will take their seats in November. 

Only Dick Jordan, Blake Edwards, and Andy Betterton will be returning. We look forward to Betterton's reaction when he must choose between Jordan's position and the position of a new, thinking council member. Edwards? He'll sleep through it.

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As it stands now, there will definitely be at least one woman on the new Florence council. There will probably be two. If the latter comes to pass, it will be a first for Florence.

Now, the salient question: Was Susan Goode the odd person out in the mayoral primary due to her sex? We've heard some extremely interesting takes on that particular primary, and the war of the sexes was one factor mentioned. The others? That's a topic for another blog, but we'll get there.

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