Samuelson's attorneys seek court order
Attorneys for Sen. Don Samuelson, DFL-Brainerd, sought a court order today that would require state election officials to adhere to rules relating to recounts.
Attorney Kathleen Gaylord said the purpose of the legal action would be to instruct the secretary of state's personnel adhere to the proper recount procedure.
She said the recount team:
-- Was not allowing candidate representatives to view all the election materials.
-- Was not allowing them to challenge questionable ballots.
-- Was counting more than one precinct when the Samuelson representatives had only one observer available.
Head recount official Lisa Kramer Rodacker was proceeding with the recount, and not available for comment late this morning. She told those who were watching the process in the Crow Wing County Service Building she would continue the recount unless she received a court order to do otherwise. She told Amy Dawson, another of Samuelson's attorneys, that she had agreed to a process that involved counting more than one precinct at a time on Wednesday.
Before the Samuelson attorneys announced they would seek a court order, Rodacker said the recount team was through about three-quarters of the Crow Wing County votes.
Crow Wing County Auditor Roy Luukkonen said the counting, which started at 2 p.m. Wednesday, continued until about 7:15 p.m.
The recount team had been scheduled to begin recounting votes in Morrison County at 2 p.m. today.