BATTLEFORD — It was the closest of calls — just one vote separated David George, a long-serving member of Battleford's council, from the winning candidate in this fall's municipal election.
But when George requested a recount, hoping to overturn the results, his bid was swiftly denied, leaving him frustrated and questioning the fairness of the process.
"I lost by one vote," George said, still incredulous days after the election. “… and I could have been three (votes) ahead (if they can be voted by mail)."
George’s recount request submitted Nov. 18 was fueled by the belief that the absence of mail-in ballots had disadvantaged some of his supporters, particularly those who had signed his nomination papers but were unable to vote because they were out of the country. Although the option was requested, George said, the Town of Battleford does not offer mail-in voting.
His plea, however, was met with a quick and firm reflection from the town’s election officials. In a letter outlining the decision, Town CAO Todd Francis explained that the margin of George's loss was smaller than the number of ballots that had been rejected or objected to, meaning the election results met the legal threshold to stand as they were.
“The difference between the number of votes cast for any elected member and the candidate having the next highest number of votes is less than the number of ballots counted but objected to plus all rejected ballots, except those on which no vote was made,” stated in the town’s letter to George.
George said that, at this point, there is nothing more he can do: "I went and saw a lawyer (with the town), and we went through the act a little bit, and there's actually nothing I can do.”
The election results stand as declared, and George's request for a recount will not be revisited.
“It's unfortunate, but, you know, it's a democratic process, and whether it's one vote or 10 votes, you know, it's sad to see a long-serving councillor not return,” Francis said. “But it gives an opportunity for something new to come on with new ideas and a new mindset and add a little something that might be missing from council.”
After serving on council for over two decades, George couldn’t hide his disappointment.
“You're kind of talking to a guy that's a little disappointed,” he told the News-Optimist. “I've always been active in the community. I've never not been active in the community, and I always did for 20 years plus that I was on council.
“I always did what was right for the people of the town, and I did not ever have an agenda. I just did what was right. Some people have agendas. I never had one, so I'm proud of that.”
With the next municipal election still a few years off, the debate over mail-in ballots and the transparency of the recount process is likely to continue — especially if the margin of victory in future races is as narrow as this one.
“Good luck to the new council. And it was a pleasure working with various mayors, McArthur, Sack, Odishaw, Mahon, Leslie, (and) this goes back to 1988 when I first got elected,” said George.
