Recount reveals Doty win

Rep. Al Doty's margin of victory, after this week's recount, stands at 75 votes with only five votes being challenged.

The recount totals are Doty, 10,072, and LeMieur, 9,997, with five votes being challenged. Morrison County votes were recounted Wednesday and Crow Wing County votes were recounted on Thursday in the Land Services Building in Brainerd.

The results of the recount will go to the state canvassing board.

Doty said Thursday that it was reassuring to watch how close the recount totals were to the Nov. 4 voting.

"It's very comforting to see this process," he said. "There is no doubt that these are the real numbers."

He said the recount results were a great compliment to the officials in Morrison and Crow Wing counties who chose the election methods and to the election officials.

Crow Wing County Auditor Deborah Erickson said the recount process for 12B went smoothly with officials counting about 5,000 ballots in 2-1/2 hours.

"I'm feeling very confident in our tally. It's validating the process."

Former state Rep. Paul Gazelka, who was an observer for the campaign of Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said the recount experience in the contest between Coleman and Democrat Al Franken gave him added confidence in the county's elections.

"The process is fair and thorough," he said.

Gazelka watched officials recount 1,695 votes in one Brainerd and one Baxter precinct. He challenged one vote in that group of ballots.

MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.