Beth Akeson ran against Tim Riggenbach for the third district City Council seat, replacing outgoing councilman Bob Manning. Riggenbach won the election by 12 votes, causing many to wonder if Akeson would ask for a recount. Wonder no more — Akeson sent out this release late Monday:
I would like to congratulate Tim Riggenbach on his victory in the recent City Council election. I have spoken to Tim and have wished him my best as he takes his seat Tuesday evening.
To my supporters who urged me to pursue a recount: I would like you to know I deliberated for weeks and concluded a recount would be a formidable and costly exercise, and most likely to no avail. Please accept my thanks and appreciation for the kind emails, notes and words of encouragement. I have offered Tim a helping hand if ever needed and ask you to do the same.
We live in a city with so much potential; let’s join together and do our best to see great things accomplished.
Sincerely,
Beth Akeson
Well, it is not suprising to me that she was not elected. Ms. Akeson is educated, well-spoken, and has proven her dedication to the community over the years. Why would be want someone the likes of her representing us. And so it goes in Peoria.
I respect Beth’s decision, however much I disagree with her.
Very honorable.
Frustrated: Mr. Rggenbach seems to be of the same blood lines and he is replacing a man who served the district very well. Peoria has, and will be in good hands. Keep up your involvement, Mrs. Akeson!
“We live in a city with so much potential”
Doncha just love political speak?
What city isn’t full of potential?
How about if we join in and see “great things” thwarted and instead do small things (like caring about our neighbors and taking care of the poor, uneducated and sick)?
Man oh man, why am I such a pain?
As long as Mr. Riggenbach remembers that is District is larger than just his neighborhood…
kcdad: Is this what you are talking about? Working together…….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM
Now there’s a woman with some class!
I don’t think the press conference over the signs issue went over too well. Too transparent and her argument was diluted given the fact that she used an out of town vendor too. Take that press conference out of the equation, and she might have cinched it. Negative campaigning does not work people.
Karrie: That was nice. Too many voices are not being heard… that was a small part of what we need.
Anon: She lost by 12 votes (maybe). That’s so close passing gas could have cause it.
With such a razor-thin margin, a recount actually would have made sense. I think Akeson owned it to her supporters- and to herself- to have sought a recount. The fact that she chose not to is both puzzling and disapointing.
Conrad,
Thank you for the support and hopefully the following explanation of the process will give more clarity to the reason I did not seek a recount.
Unfortunately to get a different result you have to take the issue to court. It would have been VERY expensive and up to a judge in the end to overturn the outcome. Even if we found the seven votes needed we would not have been able to change the outcome without a fight. Turning the race into a spectacle would not have served anyone well.
Electronic voting machines make it difficult if not impossible to discover voting errors because voting is done in private. If a voter is confused about how to use the electronic machine and too embarrassed to ask for help they may or may not cast the vote they actually wanted to cast, but no one will ever know for certain. However their vote is cast becomes the official vote.
There have been cases throughout the country where machines have had a software issue, but the machines Peoria uses have not had that problem.
Absentee ballots are of the greatest concern because they are hand written and recorded by humans. There will be human error, but Illinois law only allows a review of 25% of the precincts and therefore a look at only the absentee ballots cast in those precincts.
I would not have been able to look at all absentee ballots unless I was able to show after the discovery process there was amble reason to do a full recount. As I mentioned in the first paragraph even if I found the seven votes I would have had to take my case to court.
I contacted an attorney who is considered to be the authority on the subject and while he was willing to take my case he said it could cost a huge amount of money and there would be no guarantee we would be able to overturn the outcome. In the end it just wasn’t sensible.
Without knowing your identity I do not know if you were active in my campaign. If you were- thank you very much. In the event I have an opportunity to run again in the future I hope you will consider supporting me knowing I take issues seriously and try to make decisions in the best interest of the community.
Thanks for the clarity, Ms. Akeson. I live in the 2nd district, but know you had some very heavy support among the residents in the 3rd. As to my identity, I do not hide behind a non de plume and am who I am.
“I don’t think the press conference over the signs issue went over too well. Too transparent and her argument was diluted given the fact that she used an out of town vendor too. Take that press conference out of the equation, and she might have cinched it. Negative campaigning does not work people.”
Actually if you look at the results Akeson won Election Day by 27 votes and the absentee ballots by 8 votes. She lost the election because Riggenbach won the early voting by 47 votes so maybe she should have had the press conference earlier. The votes that won the election had already been cast by the time the press conference was held.
Hate a POOR Loser