Utica recount accurate, Hinds election commission says

By Raymond Reeves    Clarion Ledger    19 August 2005
UTICA ? Mayor Charles E. Stokes' re-election was validated this morning after a meeting with members of the Hinds County Election Commission confirmed the recount of Tuesday's elections in Utica was accurate.

"Now I can go on and focus on the town's work," Stokes said today.

However, his challenger, Chris Jones, who with the initial count was slated to be in a runoff with Stokes, says he still may challenge the results.

The municipal election produced two sets of voting totals when a calculation error was discovered.

Utica had races for mayor and alderman at large on the ballot with multiple people in running in both. The initial reported totals had both races facing a runoff. Hinds County Election Commission examined the voting machines and recorded votes, determined there was an error and gave incumbent Charles E. Stokes a win in the mayor's race.

The results from some of the machines were added in twice, boosting the totals past where they should have been. Hinds County commissioners caught and corrected the error when Willie Hamilton, head of the Utica Election Commission, brought the machines to Jackson.

Hamilton said he felt vindicated by the Hinds County commissioners' final announcement.

"I feel that, at this point in time, this should be a closure to anyone trying to say I tampered with any votes," Hamilton said.

Incumbent JoAnn Caston and challenger Doris Ross will face each other in a runoff on Tuesday for the alderwoman at-large position.

Jones said the meeting morning addressed some issues but he's not satisfied 'with some of the things that went on" election day.