Hockley Ahead in Recount. No word When Board of Elections Will Announce Winner

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The first election recount in White Plains history began Tuesday behind schedule at 4 PM. There is timetable as to when the Board of Elections will announce the winner.

Glen Hockley, “Councilman in Waiting,” reported to WPCNR Tuesday evening that the voting machine canvassing had been completed by Board of Elections officials. He said the Board of Elections was going to count absentee ballots and affidavits next. He was reluctant to comment on the situation, but revealed he was ahead.

The recount, scheduled to begin at noon Tuesday did not begin until 4 PM because the Board of Elections officials scheduled to count had a traffic accident. When the recanvas got underway at Fire House No. 2 on Ferris Avenue, it was late afternoon. Observing were the heads of the two city parties, Frank Cantatore and Adam Bradley, Mr. Hockley, Larry Delgado, the “Incumbent in Jeopardy,” and, observers on the scene said there were legal representatives for each candidate.

James Benerofe, observing the action reported the process “hard to take,” saying the officials would call out numbers line by line for each machine in droning fashion. Rita Malmud, City Council President also observing told this Reporter, that it was a process of just listening to numbers read out loud.

Hockley, contacted by WPCNR at 8:30 PM Tuesday evening said counting had been suspended for the evening, and that counting the paper ballots was next. He said the Board of Elections had given no indication when a winner would be officially declared.

Going into the recount, Hockley held a 159-vote lead over Larry Delgado, having obtained the lead through absentee ballots, according to a Board of Elections observer.

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100 Absentee Ballots Put Hockley on Council–Maybe–canvas today.

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A strong effort to garner absentee ballots gave Glen Hockley the lead in the race for the third Common Council seat. The Board of Elections will recanvas the White Plains voting machines Tuesday at noon, and the Delgado-Hockley battle will be decided. Delays in Board of Elections reporting discovered.
WPCNR has learned a lot about how ballots are counted at the Board of Elections: slowly and by hand, by word of mouth, and with an eye for accuracy, with urgency downplayed.

WPCNR first became aware of the lag between Board of Elections official counting procedures and city hall counts Wednesday morning when advised by cable tv in White Plains that the Board of Elections website did not have results up on their website as of 9:30 PM Tuesday evening.

Board of Elections website not ready at the bell.

Officials at cable television in White Plains advised WPCNR that the cable station had been assured by the Board of Elections that the Board would have results up on their site by 9:30 so the local cable channel could post them for the television audience on the city cable channel 72. The head of White Plains Cable, Fred Strauss, said he had been assured by Board of Elections officials their site would be ready. He found that was not the case an hour before the polls closed.

Stauss told WPCNR that as of approximately 8:00 PM Tuesday, his producer, Gary Stukes reported that the Board of Elections site had no format on their screens. Strauss said that Mr. Stukes was assured results would be up as the polls closed at 9. When Stukes checked the Board of elections site at approximately 9 PM, no results were up. He scrambled to get results. He contacted the White Plains City Clerk’s office, and used their figures to post results on Cable 72.

No White Plains results until 10:30-11 PM.

Strauss said the Board of Elections began posting results on their site by 11:00 PM. That was the time when Democratic and Republican District leaders had basically completed their raw count of votes for all the districts. This is odd because voice reports are the way the Board of Elections gets their figures, too, according to a spokesperson for the Board of Election office. Strauss said Board of Elections updates on White Plains races were “infrequent, at best,” after 10:30 PM.

Phone-in results to random tallyers

WPCNR learned from the Board of Elections Friday that their official “unofficial” counts are phoned in by their own election inspectors at each polling place in White Plains at the conclusion of voting. According to the spokesperson for the Board of Election Commissioner’s office, “the sheets are bagged and delivered to us, and we count them by hand.”

The spokesperson said the counts appearing on the Board of Elections White Plains races page are based on the paper sheets pulled from the voting machines at the conclusion of voting, and phoned in to the Board of Elections.

A longtime observer of canvases on election night told WPCNR Tuesday that totals are read off the sheets across each line. He says there is wide margin for error given the fact that the results are read off quickly and often the tally takers are behind in writing down the results as they are called out.

Sometimes counts are misheard

“We take voice reports from our election inspectors, and sometimes the totals can be misunderstood,” the spokesperson (contacted at 9:30 last Wednesday morning said), by way of explanation as to why some candidates’ totals dropped Wednesday from what party district leaders reported. “We then recanvas the machine sheets by hand. How did you think it was done? We’re entering results into the terminals now (9:30 AM Thursday morning).”

No results as of 8 AM Wednesday morning

WPCNR first noted the lag in reporting, when we accessed the Board of Elections site at 8 AM Wednesday morning. We anticipated that all Election District results would be completed so we could give Board of Elections unofficial tallies on our Wednesday morning White Plains Week Election Edition show.

We were surprised. The Board of Elections site had not been updated for 6 hours and 40 minutes. The last update time on their site was listed as 1:20 AM Wednesday morning with only 39 of 46 districts reporting.

Long lagtime in reporting results

Now, had the Board of Elections and the County Executive’s office not ballyhooed the availability of these returns on the Board of Elections website prior to the election, we would not be surprised. The Board of Elections website, in fact did not update their site with results until approximately 3:00 PM Wednesday afternoon, fourteen hours after their last update in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

No one knows about 13,000 votes cast in White Plains for 18 hours after polls close.

As of Wednesday at 1 PM, Public Access television was being told by the Board of Elections that seven of the 46 Election Districts in White Plains had not reported. Asked about this, the spokesman said that not all the bags containing the machine count sheets had been delivered by Wednesday morning.

Hockley surge attributed to absentee ballots

The spokesperson at the Board of Elections, WPCNR contacted said that the surge of Glen Hockley was due to approximately 100 absentee ballots making the difference. When asked why the results favoring Hockley were not posted for 14 hours, they referred us to a person in the computer department who told us that the computer program the Board of Elections used “refreshed” every three minutes, and that the results posted depended on how fast they were inputted at the computer terminals of the Board of Elections officials taking the results over the phones.

Only 60 phones to take 2,000 District Results

The computer department spokesperson reported that the Board of Elections only had 60 telephones and operators/inputters to take election results from all the election districts in every town and city in Westchester County.

She added, when asked, that the operators taking the phone-ins of results were not covering specific locations, and therefore not keeping continuing tallies. She said they took results at random from whatever district inspecto called in whether from White Plains, Scarsdale, Yonkers or Ossining. WPCNR estimates there are approximately 2,000 election Districts in Westchester County. (There are over 100 in Yonkers, and 46 in White Plains, alone.)

Republican sources rue fact that they did not go after absentee ballots

Beginning Tuesday at twelve noon, the recanvas of the White Plains voting machines will begin. Privately Republicans were grudgingly praising the Democratic Party pursuit of absentee ballots before the election. “We messed up there,” one Republican source, “We should have done more on absentees.”

Another source, familiar with insiders in the city Democratic party said they knew the Democrats had been relentless in pursuing absentee ballots and making sure they were sent in.

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Residents Affected by WTC Attack Lag in Applying for Aid. Here’s How:

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From Westchester County Department of Communications:County Executive Andy Spano is concerned that not enough people know about federal aid if they are victims of the WTC attack. As of last Friday, only 206 county residents had called the FEMA registration line to ask for help.
Spano urges residents affected by the World Trade Center disaster to take advantage of federal aid available to help them rebuild their lives.

Residents and small business owners affected by the Sept. 11 attack can get unemployment insurance, help with housing costs and other aid by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) toll-free registration line at 1-800-462-9029.

“The effects of this cowardly act continue to spread. People have lost loved ones. Now some are losing their jobs. Others are in danger of losing their homes because they can’t pay the mortgage or rent,” said Spano. “I’m concerned that many people haven’t asked for the help that is being offered.”

Among the key programs available are:

Disaster Unemployment Assistance: This is financial assistance for up to 26 weeks eligibility for the self-employed, business owners or workers who lost their job because of the attack, and to those who are otherwise not eligible for New York State unemployment program benefits. Small business owners are also eligible for this program.

Mortgage and Rental Assistance: These are grants for up to 18 months for those threatened with eviction or foreclosure due to the loss of income due to the World Trade Center attack.

Crisis Counseling: This provides assistance to help victims deal with the trauma brought on by the attacks.

“These are just a few of the programs that are available to help people start rebuilding their lives and livelihoods,” said Spano. “I urge them to call. The help is there.”

The FEMA toll-free registration line -1-800-462-9029 – is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. People who are speech- or hearing-impaired should call TTY 1-800-462-7585.

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Water Supply Low. County Urges Voluntary Conservation.

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From Westchester County’s Department of Communications and WPCNR:Faced with lower reservoir levels, Westchester County is asking its residents to help with conservation efforts and use water sparingly. The request comes on the heels of a drought watch issued earlier this week by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Voluntary conservation is urged. Tips on saving water appear in this article.
The DEC’s declaration – which applied to 13 southeastern counties – doesn’t include mandatory restrictions but public water suppliers are urged to promote voluntary conservation.

Latest national map radars examined by WPCNR indicate that there will be no precipitation for the next 10 days. Temperatures are expected to be warm in the 50s and 60s, which may aggravate the shortage.

“This doesn’t indicate any kind of emergency – just that reservoir levels are lower than we would like,” said John D’Aquino, first deputy commissioner of the Department of Environmental Facilities. “However, it does mean that we should all practice conservation to keep the situation from getting any worse.”

State and county officials attribute the situation to below average rainfall, stream flow and groundwater levels. The reservoirs feeding New York City’s water supply are at 53 percent of capacity – significantly below the normal level of 69 percent.

Among the water-saving tips recommended by both the state and county:

Take shorter showers or fill the tub only halfway.

Don’t run the tap while shaving or brushing your teeth.

Fix leaking pipes, hoses and faucets. Leaky faucets can waste up to 1,000 gallons each week.

Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full. Or use short cycles if available.

Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. Each unnecessary flush can waste 1.6 to 5 gallons.

Install water-saving fixtures including toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators.

Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean rather than washing them down with a hose.

Don’t let the tap run for cold water. Keep a container in the refrigerator.
For more tips, contact the county’s Water Conservation Hotline at 813-5436.

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WPCNR Salutes Veterans on “Armistice Day”

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Eighty-three years ago today, representatives of the allied powers and the German allies met in a railroad coach outside Paris and agreed to an armistice, ending World War I, the so-called “War to end all wars,” a war in which 10 million persons died.

Since that day, November 11 has been set aside as first Armistice Day, later changed to Veterans Day. White Plains CitizeNetReporter salutes and remembers and thanks our veterans on this day which recognizes how special they are. Two events celebrated America’s first veterans last month.

On October 22 at “Washington’s Headquarters,” in White Plains, the Jacob Purdy House, the White Plains Historical Society recognized America’s first veterans. These were the men of White Plains who defended Chatterton Hill and Miller Hill from the advancing British army under General Howe.


GUNSMOKE REMEMBERS THE FIRST VETERANS. The militia men and volunteers who defended White Plains at the Battle of White Plains in 1776 were commemorated October 21, with a volley of remembrance at Jacob Purdy House.WPCNR PHOTO

An elite reenactment contingent of British troops gathered about the flagpole overlooking White Plains below. Old Glory was raised on the flagpole. A volley of gunfire from 18th Century muskets saluted the fallen from that long ago battle. The names of the residents of White Plains who died on those hills 225 years ago were solemnly read from a podium at the steps of the old red home.

The names of three White Plains citizens killed in the World Trade Center attack were added to this distinguished list of America’s first veterans, as Jack Harrington, President of the White Plains Historical Society oversaw the ceremonies.

It strikes WPCNR that these three 2001 citizens were much like those first veterans who defeneded White Plains in 1776. Those first veterans lay down their plows or crafts and took up arms when their town and country was threatened. Some citizens lost everything when British troops burned parts of White Plains after the battle.

We remember our fighting men and women on Veterans Day, because most of them were every day citizens called to duty who went out and did something they did not know they could do. Perform acts of heroism, bravery, losing their lives for the American way. Many were just kids themselves. For example, most B-17 pilots over Germany in World War II were in their early twenties.


NAMES OF AMERICA’S FIRST VETERANS ARE READ AT ENTRANCE TO JACOB PURDY HOUSE. Jack Harrington, President of White Plains Historical Society solemly conducts reading of the White Plains Honor Roll at Battle of White Plains ceremonies October 22.WPCNR PHOTO

We can in no way, or through no motion picture know what any veteran experienced. The veterans who still are with us do not like to talk about their combat experiences. And they do not. One veteran of D-Day, asked what he thought of Saving Private Ryan and the realism of it, said the real D-Day was worse. However, veterans we have interviewed remark that they think of their combat experience every day. It is always with them.

It is inconceivable to me that I could ever be able to do what these men and women did. I would like to hope I could. However, the veterans have. They left ordinary lives as office workers, factory workers, farmers, accountants, and what have you and were able to go to war and “rise to the occasion,” or as they say today, “step it up to the next level.” The highest level.


MAYOR DELFINO UNVEILS HISTORICAL SIGNAGE AT BATTLE HILL. In another effort to commemorate America’s veterans, Mayor Joseph Delfino, working with New York State and local groups unveiled a series of permanent historical signs in Battle Hill-Whitney Park October 28 detailing the Battle Hill and Miller Hill battle grounds of the Battle of White Plains. It is the first effort to produce a heritage trail in the City of White Plains. Other markers of historically significant areas of the city are planned in the near future.WPCNR PHOTO

How should Armistice Day be observed? Well, a thought about the sacrifice of these veterans and those who died perhaps brings new vibrancy and dedication to the ideals for which they fought. A thought to what they considered important enough to leave a safe existence to fight for valiantly at great risk and high valour reinforces those sacred American standards: freedom, the pursuit of happiness, free speech, the big little things.

We should value the sacrifice of our local public defenders, the police, the firefighters, the enforcement officials who routinely do this to keep the fabric of American society safe.
Thank you.

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A Message of Support from Mexico to America

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A woman from Mexico writes CitizeNetReporter: We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events that have taken place in your country and want you to know that we share your grief and concern. These terrible incidents are signs that something is gravely wrong in the world. Please understand that we stand beside you in seeking justice and an end to atrocities such as those that occurred on 11 of September of 2001. Her message continues in Spanish and English:

Dear American people,

Estamos terriblemente impresionados y tristes por los eventos trágicos que han ocurrido en su país y queremos que sepan que compartimos su pena y preocupacion. Estos incidentes terribles son signos de que algo esta terriblemente mal en el mundo. Por favor, comprendan que estaremos con ustedes en la búsqueda de justicia y el final de atrocidades como las ocurridas el 11 de Septiembre del 2001.

Los Estados Unidos se erigieron como un modelo de gobierno para la gente y por su gente. Ustedes quizas no sepan que su país fue el modelo para nuestra República Mexicana (la cual finalmente se formó siguiendo nuestras herencias culturales), y lo ha sido para muchas otras naciones de alrededor del mundo, especialmente a lo largo de Latinoamerica.

The United States was established as a model of freedom of government by the people themselves. You may not know that your country was the model for the Mexican republic (which ultimately took form according to our own unique cultural heritage), as it has been for many other nations around the world, especially throughout Latinamerica.

En este momento deseamos hacerle nuestro mas sincero reconocimiento a los logros históricos de su país y a unirnos con ustedes en un esfuerzo de re-descubrir los principios y fuerzas morales que convirtieron a los Estados Unidos en lo que el gran fundador de Massachusettes John Winthrop llamo: “La ciudad deslumbrante en lo alto de la colina”.

At this time we wish to extend to you our sincere high regard for the historical accomplishments of your country and join with you in an intention to re-discover the central principles and moral strength that made the United States into what your great forefather John Winthrop of Massachusettes called: “the shining city on the top of the hill”

Nosotros somos gente artesana de un pueblo rural en Mexico y es poco lo que podemos hacer para ayudar a las victimas de esta tragedia o para ayudar en las importantes tareas y retos que enfrentan los Estados Unidos y sus ciudadanos.

We are village craftspeople in rural México and there is little we can do to help the victims of this tragedy or to assist in the important tasks and challenges that lie immediately before the United States and its citizens.

No pretendemos decir que los Estados Unidos nunca han actuado injustamente o de manera poco noble en sus tratos con Mexico y otros paises. Lo ha hecho. Pero creemos que estas injusticias nunca fueron la intencion del pueblo Americano, sino que fueron fruto de la estructura moderna de sus instituciones que veneran el dinero por sobre todos las cosas.

We are not pretending that the United States has never acted ignobly or has not been unjust in its dealings with México or other countries. It has. But we believe that these injustices were never the intention of the American people, rather they came about as a part of the structure of modern institutions that worshiped money above everything.

Nosotros sabemos que la gente de los Estados Unidos, verdaderamente desea lo mismo que nosotros: un mundo que este gobernado por el amor, la justicia y la ley, basadas en la dignidad del ser humano sin importar su color o herencia cultural.

The American people, we know, deeply wish for the same as we do ourselves: a world that is ruled by love and justice and law based upon the dignity of the human being no matter his or her color or cultural background.

Sabemos que la Nacion de los Estados Unidos se fundó con los principios mas altos y que esta terrible emergencia tendera a producir en America una filosofia de reflexion y a re-establecer sus grandiosos fundamentos.

We know that the United States nation is founded on the highest principles and that this awful emergency will tend to produce in Americans philosophical reflection and a re-establishment of the foundations of her famous greatness.

Nuestras oraciones mas fervientes para ustedes y nuestro apoyo y solidaridad hacia todos los Americanos de buena voluntad que honran y respetan las tradiciones historicas que hicieron de los Estados Unidos la primera nacion de la tierra que se tomo el trabajo de lograr establecer una republica soverana opuesta a todas las formas de tirania.

Our fervent prayers go out to you, and our support and solidarity with all Americans of good will who honor and respect the historic traditions that made the United States into the first nation on earth that has carried out the great task of humanity to establish a sovereign republic opposed to all forms of tyranny.

Sepan entonces, amigos, que esta obscuridad paara y que lo bueno que anima a la gente americana seguramente se reafirmará.

Know then, friends, that this darkness will pass and that the Good that animates the American people will surely reassert itself.

Atentamente, las artesanas de la cooperativa de ARTCAMP “Artesanas Campesinas” de Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico.

Hilaria Tamara Areli Luz Yolanda María Angelica Esperanza y las otras mujeres de nuestra comunidad.

Atentamente, the artisans cooperative of ARTCAMP “Artesanas Campesinas” of Guerrero, México. www.artcamp.com.mx

Hilaria Tamara Areli Luz Yolanda María Angelica Esperanza

and the other women of our community.

Tamara Hernandez Danel Exconvento 01 Taxco Guerrero Mexico

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Tigers Drub Mahopac, 6-0, Move on to Bowl Saturday.

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Spencer Ridenhour’s 5 yard bull-ahead touchdown run in the early going in the Third Quarter was the only score as White Plains stymied Mahopac all afternoon at Parker Stadium. The Tigers 6-0 win puts them in a game with a team to be determined. It was not as close a game as it sounds.
After a scoreless first half, Ahmad Warren recovered a Mahopac fumble on the Indians 27 in the opening minutes of the third quarter to set up White Plains with a scoring threat in the red zone.


TIGERS CHEW UP THE INDIANS in the autumnal showcase of Parker Stadium Saturday. The Orange and Black did not allow Mahopac to penetrate past the Tiger 30 yard line all day. Unofficially, Mahopac had to be well under 100 yards total offense.WPCNR PHOTO

With a first and 10 on the Mahopac 28 after Warren’s timely recovery, Eric Dickey rumbled offtackle to the 17 for a first down. Ridenhour lugged for 3 more to the 14. Spencer took it again to the 11 yard line. Dickey was stopped at the 10.

Then came the key play. On 4th and 3 at the 10, Spencer Ridenhour burst around right end to the 5 for a first and goal to go, and lugged it in straight up the middle on the next play, 6-0, Tigers with 9 minutes to go in the third quarter. It was all they needed.

Orlando Cruz punts, averaging 34 yards a kick, kept Mahopac in poor field position most of the afternoon, and the 4-4 Indians simply were no match for the seasoned Tiger defense. Even when they got the ball to midfield with a minute to go. The fans were not worried.

On the other hand, the Tiger offense had one of its worst performances of the season. With Jeff Lee unable to catch passes because of his left wrist being in a cast, the Tiger offense has become one-dimensional. They only had one sustained drive of the day, which stalled on downs at the Mahopac 11. (This was on the Tigers first possession of the game.)

“Mr. Jet,” the football fanatic from Section 234 at Giants Stadium attended the game. A long time Jet sufferer, he analyzed the game this way: “This was one of those games when there was more action in the stands than on the field. (A scuffle in the stands in the south end of the Parker bowl occurred in the third quarter, but order was restored by the combatants.) But a win is a win. White Plains played great defense. But this game was really what they mean when they describe a game as ‘three yards and a cloud of dust.'”

“Mr. Jet” is right. Against an very unimaginative Mahopac offense and an undistinguished defense, the Tiger offense was predictable. Not as inept as a Mahopac, but they are predictable. Their first series was superior, but when Mahopac realized all the Tigers were going to do was run (with Jeff Lee out of commission on offense), it was look for Dickey, McKoy or Ridenhour.

The Tigers raised their record to 6 wins and 3 defeats. The contest saw the Tigers take the most penalties of any game this season there were three clips, and two offsides which stalled out drives.

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Board of Ed sees 3 Search Firms; Will See More Tues. Saul Letter Out Nov. 17

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Larry Geiger of the Board of Education told WPCNR Friday that the Board of Education will see two more search firms Tuesday afternoon as the Board seeks a firm to guide the School Board in seeking a new Superintendent of Schools.
Mr. Geiger reported by telephone to WPCNR Friday morning that the Board of Education met with three executive search firms Monday afternoon, and had “very encouraging” discussions with all three.

He said the Board is expecting some confirmations of phone calls and expects to review two more firms next Tuesday afternoon. He said the Board of Ed expects to name a search firm at the November 19 public Board of Education meeting.

He also confirmed that School District Parents will be sent a letter defining in more detail the motivations behind the decision not to renew the contract of present Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Saul Yanofsky. Geiger said the letter would be out towards the end of next week.

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Fred Bland Plays City Hall Again Wednesday. Supertect to Show Enhanced Apts

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The Mayor’s Office announced today that Frederick Bland of Beyer, Blinder, Belle has been drawing, and together with Louis Cappelli will present enhanced designs of his apartment towers for the City Center next Wednesday at City Hall to the Common Council. Time for Mr. Bland’s second appearance has not been set yet.
The Mayor’s Office, coming out of post-election “lock-down,” announced that Cappelli Enterprises is tentatively scheduled to present Frederick Bland’s enchanced design for the residential apartment towers for the City Center project.


MORE BLANDISHMENTS TO DEBUT WEDNESDAY. Frederick Bland of Beyer, Blinder, Belle will play the stage at City Hall Wednesday unveiling new, enhanced, detailed designs based on this original sketch he presented in September before the Common Council. Bland’s first take was warmly received by the Common Council and the audience seeing them. Bland’s new design requires moving residential parking underneath the new parking garage to be owned by the city, and the city reports it will be negotiating a payment from the Cappelli organization for those subterranean rights.WPCNR PHOTO

The Mayor’s Office advised WPCNR Friday that Mr. Cappelli and Mr. Bland have announced that Mr. Bland’s enhanced design for the Martine Avenue & EJ Conroy place apartment tower necessitates placing residential parking underneath the new parking garage, adding another lower level.

Previously, the City Center design incorporated complete parking for residents underneath the residential tower itself. George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said that the reasons for adding another underground level of parking beneath the ground floor of the parking garage will be explained by Bland and Cappelli Wednesday. He also said the city has been negotiating with the Cappelli organization for payment for those subterranean rights, and air rights over the garage.

Speculation that underground and air rights raises speculation of further acquisitions in the downtown by the Super Developer

Seasoned developer sources familar with the motives behind purchasing of air and underground rights, speculate that this may be a dual-edged intiative by the Cappelli organization.

Cappelli may be looking to acquire property adjacent to the new city parking garage he is building to add to his City Center centerpiece. He may be looking to acquire the property on Main Street previously eyed by other developers for a cooperative apartment tower and hotel which would be adjacent to the to-be-owned-by-the-city parking garage.

The Halpern organization owners of the buildings adjacent to Grace Church on Main Street, for example, own the air rights over Grace Church. This enables them to develop the property adjacent to the church, over the church airspace.


VIEW TO A BLAND: Another look at the Frederick Bland concept for the residential towers for the Cappelli City Center. WPCNR PHOTO

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FLASH! RECOUNT of Council Race Begins Tuesday. Board of Elections: Hockley UP!

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As of 3 PM Wednesday afternoon, the Board of Elections is reporting Glen Hockley the winner of the third Council seat by 159 votes over Larry Delgado, reversing Mr. Delgado’s unofficial 19-or 119 – vote lead of Wednesday morning taken from City Clerk-generated figures.

The City Clerk office reports all voting machines have been impounded by court order at 3:30 AM Wednesday, and an official recount of the council races will begin Tuesday.

The Board of Elections results had not been updated since 1:20 AM Wednesday morning. They were finally updated approximately 13 hours later well into Wednesday afternoon.

The Board of Elections show a distinct change from District totals reported last night from the District-by-District Machine counts supplied by the City Clerk’s office relied upon by Republican Headquarters.

The Board of Elections reported to WPNCR at 3:10 PM today at their offices that the final unofficial totals with all 46 election districts with 82% of absentee ballots counted were:

Rita Malmud 6,656 (up 193 votes)

Tom Roach 5,985 (No change from totals)

Glen Hockley 5,971(up 84)

Larry Delgado, 5,812(DOWN 94 from original city supplied total of 5,906)

The totals for the Mayor’s race went up slightly, too:

Joseph Delfino 7,206 (up 78)

Robert Greer 5,261 (up14)

The totals for the other two Republican candidates did not change and still stand thusly:

Robert Tuck,5,394

Mike Amodio,5,312

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