Live from the Franklin aldermanic recount

Franklin recount, originally uploaded by johnruexp.

Recounting the votes for District 3 alderperson. A snapshot of Democracy.

It's 1:15 pm and everyone is hungry - - but there is nowhere to eat in walkable distance of Franklin City Hall, of course. City Clerk Sandi Wesolowski broke out a bag of pretzels to share.

1:29 pm

"Channel 4 is here."

"For the recount?"

"No, they're here for the measles."

1:53 pm

A contingent has to leave the room to view ballots stored in the City Clerk's locked office.

2:15 pm

I almost left for lunch and would have missed this:

See that picture above? That's incumbent Al Hammelman sitting with his back to us, and seated behind him (you can see his foot) is Mayor Tom Taylor, who advised Hammelman throughout the morning.

Below you can better see the seating arrangement; the mayor is in the dark green jacket at far left, with Hammelman seated in front of him.

During a discussion with Hammelman to decide how to handle a couple ballots, challenger Kristen Wilhelm's lawyer/advocate, Michael Maistelman, objected as the mayor leaned in to advise Hammelman during the discussion. A bit of a kerfuffle followed, and Mayor Taylor ultimately left after noting for the record that he was there as Hammelman's friend and at his request.

A little excitement. It was an uncomfortable moment after a pretty sedate morning, but Maistelman had a very good point. Notwithstanding her impeccable reputation, the City Clerk is hired by the mayor, and it seemed a bit odd to have the mayor advocating for and advising one side over the other in recount issues.

2:21 pm

Four voters' ballots are uncertain; it isn't clear whether they actually voted due to discrepancies on the poll logs (one did not match the other). The City Clerk is now calling each of the four voters to confirm whether they voted.

2:45 pm

I have to pick my daughter up from school in 15 minutes, and the Canvassers are constructing a motion prior to the machine re-count. Tune in later ....

Comments

[Bryan Maersch]

I am on the edge of my seat!

[Fred Keller]

Great Job, John! Are you planning the same for the District 4 recount?

[Greg Kowalski]

I hope he is. I missed ya earlier today, John. You should've told me you were at City Hall - I could have brought you some of Gus's fine Mexican food!

[John Michlig]

I can't give another whole day to a recount, but will try to be there for the end of the District 4 recount.

It was a fascinating thing to watch today.