Bisignano makes runoff by 1 vote, at least for now
With razor-thin margin separating him from Allan in Redondo Beach mayor's race, a new tabulation is planned.
By Kristin S. Agostoni
Daily Breeze   12 March 2005

Redondo Beach mayoral hopeful Gerard Bisignano started off his weekend with the reassuring news that one lonely vote earned him a spot in a May 17 runoff against former City Councilman Mike Gin.

But the city clerk's tally of three leftover ballots Friday also left Bisignano with the unsettling feeling that his luck could easily take a downturn. 

Though Bisignano managed to stay ahead of community activist Ellen Allan, City Clerk Sandy Forrest has announced plans to conduct a complete recount of the votes with two new tabulation machines. Bisignano and Allan have been seesawing for second place since the polls closed Tuesday night.

"This probably will go on for another whole week. I'm certainly not declaring that this is over," Bisignano said. "It could change."

Forrest's decision to conduct a recount Tuesday at 10 a.m. comes in response to inconsistent tallies from about 570 absentee and provisional ballots, as well as glitches in logic and accuracy tests on election night.

Chapman and Martin, the Anaheim company overseeing Redondo Beach elections, already brought in a second machine Thursday to recount the votes. Next week's move is designed to quadruple-check the results and eliminate lingering doubts about whether computer glitches affected the outcome.

Clerk's husband aided campaign

But as Forrest tries to ensure that each and every vote is counted as it should be, revelations that her husband contributed to one candidate's political campaign have led to questions about her role as a neutral observer.

Campaign finance statements indicate Archie Forrest contributed $1,000 to Allan in November, reports he confirmed Friday.

He maintains his decisions won't taint his wife's role as an objective election official.

"My politics are not the same as my wife's," Archie Forrest said, referring to his financial support of Allan. "I would like to see a woman as mayor. ... I feel it's my right to do these things."

Archie Forrest, described on financial statements as a self-employed contractor, said he also has made contributions to City Councilman Chris Cagle and former City Councilman Kevin Sullivan. Those amounted to $99 each, he said.

Sandy Forrest said her husband approached her months ago about his intention to help Allan's campaign. She said it was his choice, and one within his rights.

"I made no contribution," Forrest said. "I said, 'When everybody asks, I'll ask them to call you.' There's nothing to prohibit it."

"It's his money. His bank account. His contribution."

No matter the outcome of Tuesday's recount, Archie Forrest's move has raised a few eyebrows.

"When you're talking about the person who's been elected to maintain the integrity of an election," Bisignano said, "you can't help but wonder what that means."

City Attorney Jerry Goddard said state conflict laws require elected officials to disclose economic interests before weighing in on an issue, or possibly recuse themselves from a vote.

"The question here is whether making a donation presents any type of economic conflict," he said.

Group has no formal guidelines

Dawn Abrahamson, who serves as first vice president of the California City Clerks Association, said her organization doesn't issue its own ethics guidelines. But while living and working as a deputy city clerk in Pinole, Abrahamson said she made it a rule to stay out of local politics, whether that meant volunteering time or giving money to campaigns.

"I could have off duty, but because of the position I was in I didn't think it was right for me to do it," said Abrahamson, the city clerk in Pleasanton. "I have to treat all candidates the same."

Forrest announced her intentions to conduct another recount next week before she disclosed the results of the three uncounted ballots set aside on Thursday afternoon. One was pulled so officials could verify a signature, while the two others were set aside to protect the secrecy of that voter's ballot.

Forrest said she hopes the tally next week will put an end to the questions about the race and those pointed toward her office. As long as the two voting machines produce identical results, she said, "then that's it."

Outgoing mayor asks questions

But outgoing Mayor Greg Hill, who has criticized the clerk for failing to post signs at some old polling precincts directing voters to current ones, said he'll likely call for a review of the city's election procedures. The computer glitches are concerns as well, he said.

Hill called Forrest's refusal to hang posters arrogant, while Forrest countered that her office sent residents sample ballots with their voting locations ahead of time. She said she wouldn't have had the staffing on election day to post signs citywide.

"I have a lot more questions than I have answers," Hill said. "I'm not accusing her of anything. I just have questions."