Veon: Recount 'em all
J.D. Prose   Beaver County Times    05/19/2005

 State Rep. Mike Veon surprised Beaver County officials Wednesday by urging them to hold a recount of every race in Tuesday's primary.

Veon, D-14, West Mayfield, said residents were calling his Beaver Falls and Midland offices complaining about the paper ballot system that was being used for the first time since May 1998.

The Patriot touch-screen voting system that the county formerly used was decertified by the state last month after an examiner determined it was unreliable and couldn't accurately tabulate votes.

But Commissioner Joe Spanik, chairman of the elections board, said he hadn't heard of any issues that would warrant a total recount. Spanik said he periodically checked on the ballot-counting Tuesday night and the process "seemed to run smoothly."

Asked why he was requesting a recount when county officials are insisting there were no problems, Veon replied, "Everybody in the county said there weren't any problems when we had a 5 percent undervote for president that led to the decertification of the (Patriot) election machines."

County Elections Director Dorene Mandity wasn't impressed by Veon's request.

"What a joke," she said. "I'll be counting until July."

Mandity said her office was quiet Tuesday and the only complaint was from a voter who demanded more privacy while voting.

The paper system simply required voters to fill in ovals next to candidates' names. "How confusing is it to color a circle?" asked Mandity.

Once results are certified, which could take a few weeks, there is a five-day period during which challenges can be filed, Mandity said.

Mandity did not know how much a total recount would cost the county. Officials with ES&S, the Nebraska company that provided the paper ballots and scanning equipment, have already left the county, she said.

In arguing for the recount, Veon said it was especially needed in a Democratic primary race for county judge that was decided by less than 1 percent.

According to unofficial results, county Solicitor Deborah Kunselman received 50.22 percent of the vote and Assistant District Attorney Kim Tesla garnered 49.48 percent. Kunselman handily won the Republican nomination, by a margin of nearly 2,000 votes.

Veon backed Tesla, and his election committee contributed $6,500 to Tesla's campaign.

The Times was unable to question Veon on his support for Tesla and its impact on his request because Veon's cell phone cut out during an interview and he could not be reached again.