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Highlands Today

Recount Set For County Race

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Judge Anthony Ritenour sorts ballots in preparation for a democratic recount that will take place on Friday in Sebring.

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: August 28, 2008

SEBRING - While Republicans said "no" to attorney Andrew Jackson getting another four years on the Highlands County Board of Commissioners, Jeff Carlson, who won the Republican primary Tuesday, won't be sure of his Democratic opponent in November until Friday.

Former county commissioner Jeri Canale beat forensic psychologist Bruce Borkosky by a slim eight-vote margin. Because the margin of victory was so small, state law calls for an automatic recount of this Democratic primary election race.

Both Canale and Borkosky said they plan to be at the county supervisor of elections office at 10:30 a.m. Friday to watch the recount from start to finish.

Unofficial final results showed Canale with 1,897 votes, eight more than Borkosky at 1,889.

In the Republican primary, Carlson, formerly a member of Sebring City Council for nine years, had 2,937 votes, good enough for a 255-vote victory over Jackson, who had 2,682 votes.

Borkosky said he was disappointed by the extremely low voter turnout.

"I was disappointed because we were trying to get the vote out," he said Wednesday morning.

Asked if he has hope the recount will overturn the results and put him into the November election, Borkosky answered, "I have no idea about the likelihood of that happening.

"But," he added, "it's like Yogi Berra said, 'It's not over till it's over.'"

Asked what was the biggest factor in her apparent but not yet official victory, Canale answered, "I'm hoping it was my conservative values, and looking out for the people of Highlands County.

"I'm looking out for their future and for their best interests, as far as how their tax money is being spent."

Canale said she believes the county commissioners will have to cut the budget in future years, and that's a job she can take on.

Jim Konkoly can be reached at 863-386-5855 or e-mail jkonkoly@highlandstoday.com

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