Thursday, December 10, 2009
Altizer's win confirmed in recount
Mike Altizer will stay on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.
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From The Roanoke Times
Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Altizer was certified the winner of his Vinton District seat after a Wednesday morning recount of votes cast in November's election.
Altizer, the Republican incumbent, gained one vote to bring his winning margin to 17 out of 5,003 cast. Democratic challenger Pat Patterson received 2,493 votes to Altizer's 2,510.
Roanoke County Registrar Judy Stokes said one paper ballot had been so lightly marked that the optical scanners failed to read the additional vote for Altizer.
It was the second consecutive election cycle in which a supervisor had been elected by less than one percentage point. Democrat Charlotte Moore won the Cave Spring seat in 2007 by 24 votes.
Altizer acknowledged that getting the recount of the tight election behind him was a relief, but he noted that he also would have asked for the double-check if he had been on the other side.
"Pat felt he needed to ask for it, and I would have done the same," Altizer said. "He ran a hard campaign -- we both did -- and I'm glad to have another four years to serve."
Patterson said he had no regrets. "It was a great year for me and my family."
He said the verification of the count showed the county's election process was thorough and fair. Patterson said he would continue to be active in the community and indicated he would seek political office again.
The recount was overseen by a three-judge panel led by Charlie Dorsey of the 23rd Circuit, which includes Roanoke County, and two judges from outside the region.
The actual review of the numbers was conducted by four volunteer Roanoke County officers of elections, two chosen by the county's Republican Party and two by the Democratic Party.
After the recount in a Roanoke County courtroom, the judges then certified the numbers to Stokes and the state board of elections. Their decision is not subject to appeal.
