SNOHOMISH — Snohomish Mayor Karen Guzak has asked for a recount after final election tallies show a proposition to change how the city is governed passed by nine votes.
Guzak and seven other people from a political action committee that opposed Proposition 2 submitted the recount request Wednesday.
“We feel there is so much at stake. There would be such a huge loss without our city manager,” Guzak said.
Proposition 2 retools the city to a strong-mayor form of government.
The recount is estimated to cost up to $3,500, said Garth Fell, elections and recording manager at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office.
“(Guzak) and her supporters certainly have the right to pay for a recount,” said Bill Betten, a committee member who supported the proposition. “However, we are confident the Snohomish County Auditor and her elections department will perform an honest recount.”
The auditor’s office plans to recount all of the ballots cast in Snohomish, charging 25 cents per ballot.
That amounted to an initial deposit of $1,215.
If the proposition continues to pass after the recount, the requesters are responsible for covering any costs in addition to the deposit.
If the proposition fails, the requesters are off the hook.
The auditor’s office has started sifting through boxes to find the ballots cast in Snohomish. This process is expected to continue into next week. The official recount is scheduled for Dec. 9. If all goes to plan, unofficial results should be released that day, Fell said. All ballots are set to be certified in that race Dec. 12.
Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com.
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