Tew asks for recount in District 5

The Mat-Su Borough election certification is tonight, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m. with the Canvass Board at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly meeting. All but the District 5 race will be certified. This morning, District 5 assembly candidate Clayton Tew asked for a recount, according to a news release from the borough. At the polls Tew led by 19 votes. After absentee and questioned ballots were counted Tew fell back by 18 votes to incumbent Dan Mayfield.

Tew made the request to Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie at 11:33 am today. He asked for a recount by hand for the four precincts in District 5.

"I don't mind the recount so much. What I think fundamentally speaks to Mr. Tew's character is the fact that he waited until the 11th hour to do this when he knew the results a week ago and a recount could've been done in the meantime," Mayfield said. "I consider it be very spiteful on his count and very obstructionist."

Early attempts to reach Tew Tuesday afternoon have been unsuccessful.

According to borough code, the recount is performed at the expense of the requesting party, in this case, Tew. The cost is expected to be about $600.

Borough code allows the Clerk to designate how the ballots are counted. McKechnie is scheduling the Canvass Board for the recount on AccuVote units in the next few days.

The election certification and one swearing in ceremony will take place tonight at 5 p.m. in the Assembly chambers at 350 E. Dahlia Ave. in Palmer.

For more information contact the Borough Clerk's office at (907)861-8681 or Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan at 861-8577 or psullivan@matsugov.us