Date for recount in District 1 election expected to be set next week

A time and date for the recount to determine the winner of the Columbus City Council District 1 race is expected to be set next week.

Councilman Dascal Bunch,a Republican, and Democrat Jerone Wood appeared with counsel before Superior Court I Judge Jim Worton Tuesday afternoon. Wood defeated Bunch, the incumbent, by a single vote, 260-259 in November’s general election. Independent candidate Michael Kinder received 81 votes.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Worton instructed both candidates to have their recount commissioner named by the end of business on Wednesday, Nov. 27. The court will work with Clerk Jay Phelps to name a third member to the commission, a “mechanic,” that understands how the voting machines operate. The three-member commission will be tasked with counting each ballot in the district’s seven precincts. Each side is also permitted to have a “watcher” on hand during the recount.

Judge Worton says he anticipates approving the candidates’ representatives and setting a date for the recount by the middle of next week.

By law, the recount must be complete and the election certified by December 20.