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Highlands Today

Canale Confirmed Winner In Recount

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Supervisor of Elections Joe Campbell shows an original ballot that is considered damaged and it's duplicate ballot, which continues to hold a vote for Jeri Canale, during a Democratic recount on Friday in Sebring.

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: August 30, 2008

SEBRING - It's official: Jeri Canale was declared the winner of the Democratic primary election and should face Republican Jeff Carlson in November for the District 3 seat on the Highlands County Board of Commissioners.

That was the decision of the three-member Board of Canvassing in the Supervisor of Elections office at 4:45 p.m. Friday.

Canale's slim eight-vote margin of victory over Bruce Borkosky was cut by one vote to a seven-vote margin in the recount, conducted from 10:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

But Canale's place on the general election ballot for the seat that will be vacated by Republican Commissioner Andy Jackson is not yet a 100 percent sure deal.

Judge Anthony Ritenour, one of the canvas board members, told both Canale and Borkosky that whoever lost in the official recount still has options under Florida law to appeal the recount final count by going to "a higher jurisdiction."

Asked if he will appeal to a higher jurisdiction, Borkosky said, "I'm not sure what my options are, and so I'm going to have to look at the state statute."

Canale said she was happy that the recount officially puts her on the ballot. She is a former county commissioner and said that, with the recount behind her, "I'm excited because I get to start my campaign now."

Her first step, she said, will be meeting with friends and supporters to talk about a campaign strategy.

Asked what she thinks the biggest issue in the race will be, Canale answered, "I think it's going to be bringing common sense back to government, for the people."

Borkosky lost in his second bid for elected office. Four years ago, with no opposition in a primary, he was the Democratic candidate for District 3 county commissioner who lost to Jackson.

On Tuesday, Jackson lost to Carlson, who was on the Sebring City Council for nine years.

Asked if HE will run again for elected office, Borkosky answered, "Could be. Maybe. In fact, why not?"

"I think what I want people to know is that a lot of people told me they feel like their vote doesn't count," he added. "Well, there were 213 people who voted (countywide in the Democratic primary) who didn't vote in this race.

"This, obviously, is a prime example that every vote does count. If eight of those people had voted in this race, the results could have been different."

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

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