It’s been two weeks since the General Election, but some questions still remain about the winners.
On Tuesday, Nov. 22, the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors approved the re-canvass of the 2022 General Election to include the results of a recount of the Supervisors District 1 race.
Republican incumbent Chris Watts was formally declared the winner. Watts gained two votes from the recount and defeated Democratic challenger Amanda Ragan by a final margin of 2,919 to 2, 904. The two votes added to Watts’ total were both cast in Mason City Ward 3 Precinct 3 and were originally scanned as “undervotes” by the machine, meaning it did not detect any of the ovals filled in for that race.
On Wednesday, Nov. 23, a recount was scheduled to take place for the District 3 Supervisor seat. Republican Don O’Connor requested the recount after losing to Democrat Lori Meacham Ginapp by three votes. Results of that recount were not available at press time.
O’Connor said he filed for the recount to assure voters in the county that the outcome of the election is correct. He chose to have the ballots recounted using the machine at the Courthouse, which he described as most efficient. He added that he will abide by the recount results.
A recount in the House District 59 race between incumbent Sharon Steckman and Republican Doug Campbell has not yet been scheduled. Steckman won the race by a 739 vote margin, but Campbell requested a recount. Both candidates have selected a representative to sit on a three-member panel that will administer the recount, but the parties have not agreed on a third mutually-agreed on neutral member. In the event an agreement cannot be reached, District Chief Judge James Drew will be asked to appoint the third member.
