UPDATE: Richards will file for mayoral recount

• City recognizes Mayor Don Richards

Council Member David Cronk presents outgoing Mayor Don Richards with an award of apprecation for his eight years of service as River Falls' mayor. Debbie Griffin photo

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• Recount petition, public notice

Mayor Don Richards confirmed early Wednesday morning, “I’m going to file for a recount.”

He said even as late as the evening of Tuesday, April 10, he had not planned on asking for a recount. In fact, the city honored him at the City Council meeting that night as outgoing mayor and for his eight years of service.

However, after enough people asked “why not?” about the recount and following a suppertime conversation with his wife, he decided to go ahead and ask for it – just to be absolutely sure the count was true.

Richards lost his bid for a 5th term as mayor to Dan Toland by a total of just 10 votes. He actually picked up four votes when extra absentee ballots were tallied.

The mayor commented about the recount, “I really don’t think it’s gonna change the outcome of the election.”

He said Toland’s winning margin was .049 percent, just close enough to make him and many supporters wonder about any potential discrepancies.

Richards said the recount could happen as early as Friday, April 13, and will be an open process the public can attend. He confirmed that the responsibility for the recount falls to the City Clerk’s office.

More details about the time, place and other logistics of the recall will be posted as soon as they be confirmed through the clerk.

UPDATE

City Clerk Lu Ann Hecht released a public notice the afternoon of Wednesday, April 11, announcing that the recount of votes for April 3 mayoral election will begin 9 a.m. Friday, April 13, in the lower-level training room of City Hall, 222 Lewis St.

The public is welcome to attend. Click on the linked .pdf to see a copy of the notice and recount petition.

Tags: river falls, politics, government, news, wisconsin