Ohio ‘05′ Election Still Not Over

I thought it was over. Until a Free Press article showed that a City Council seat in Cuyahoga County still may be reversed after being decided by a coin toss.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A lower court erred when declaring a winner in a City Council election that couldn’t be resolved by a coin toss and two recounts, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

The high court said Rick Bain should have been allowed to present evidence he says shows that a punch-card ballot with a hanging chad is invalid. If the same lower court agrees the ballot is invalid, Bain would have a one-vote victory over incumbent Rick Taft for a council seat in Pepper Pike, a Cleveland suburb.

An initial count in the Nov. 8 election ended in a tie. A coin toss gave Taft the seat, but a recount then found Bain ahead by one vote — 1,124 to 1,123.

Bain took the seat for a time, but Taft asked for a second recount, which again ended in a tie. In March, the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court gave Taft the seat, citing the coin toss. Bain says the ballot with the hanging chad shouldn’t count because it’s attached by three corners.

Cuyahoga county. Weren’t they the ones that couldn’t open the polls on time and delayed the election results? Can’t wait to see what the county can bring us for the ‘06′ election. Think they’re ready?

Tags: Ohio