Press release from Arizona Secretary of State’s Office:

State certifies General Election, is granted court order for Prop 112 recount

Counties prepare for first recount of statewide ballot proposition in Arizona ’s history

PHOENIX: Secretary of State Ken Bennett has been granted a court order allowing an automatic recount to proceed regarding the results of Proposition 112.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Oberbillig issued the order Monday afternoon. A recount was mandated under state law due to the close margin in the race for Prop 112. Out of more than 1.5 million votes cast in that race, “no” votes are leading “yes” votes by just 128 – well within the 200-vote margin that would necessitate a recount.

County elections officials are preparing for the recount now, and will shortly begin re-running ballots through optical-scan machines in order to again tabulate the vote total for Prop 112. Only that contest will be recounted. Judge Oberbillig has ordered the counties to complete their recount activities by Dec. 15. He is scheduled to certify the new results for Prop 112 at a hearing on Dec. 20.

“Together with county elections officials, we’ve been in preparations for this recount since the days following the Nov. 2 General Election when it became apparent that a recount may be necessary,” Secretary Bennett said. “I’m confident that the recount can be conducted quickly and accurately, bringing finality to the Proposition 112 results.”

The recount is expected to cost $150,000-$200,000. As outlined by state law, the counties will be reimbursed for their costs by the state.

The Secretary of State’s Office sought the recount court order immediately following Monday afternoon’s completion of a statewide canvass certifying state and federal results for the Nov. 2 General Election. A signing ceremony for the canvass included Secretary Bennett, Gov. Jan Brewer, state Attorney General Terry Goddard and Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch of the Arizona Supreme Court.

More than 1.75 million ballots were cast in the General Election, equating to statewide voter turnout of 55.6 percent. Turnout was strongest in Yavapai (67.9 percent), Pima (65.5 percent) and Gila (60.2 percent) counties. About 54 percent of Maricopa County ’s registered voters cast a ballot in the General Election.

“Every General Election is a massive undertaking,” Bennett said. “But I’m pleased to report that our Nov. 2 election was conducted safely, smoothly and without major incident.

“My gratitude for that goes out to members of my office and county officials who coordinated the election, the more than 14,000 poll workers who manned polling places on Election Day and – of course – the more than 1.7 million Arizonans who cast a ballot.”

NOTE: Official 2010 General Election Canvass results are available here: http://www.azsos.gov/election/2010/General/Canvass2010GE.pdf

Note: In case you’re wondering, Proposition 112 “would amend the Constitution to require that initiative petitions be filed at least six months before the date on which the measure will be voted on. Under current law, initiative petitions must be filed at least four months before the date on which the measure will be voted on.” (from League of Women Voters of Arizona Education Fund Voter Guide).

So, all this time & expense to recount in all the counties is about reducing the process by 2 months. But congratulations to Pima County voters for their high turnout (65.5 % mentioned above.)

KUAT Channel 6 invited both Republican Governor Jan Brewer and Democrat Attorney General & Gubernatorial candidate Terry Goddard to discuss political issues with Arizona Illustrated host Bill Buckmaster on October 19, in their studio at the U of A campus here in Tucson. Only Goddard responded and will be attending the interview, to be telecast at 6:30 p.m. See the video online later at www.azpm.org.

AG Terry Goddard is an Arizona native (born in Tucson and graduated from Rincon High School), educated at Harvard College, with his law degree from ASU. He served as Mayor of Phoenix for 4 terms, and was elected Arizona Attorney General in 2003. He ran for Governor before in 1990 and 1994, and his father Samuel Goddard Jr. was Governor for 2 years (1965 to 1967). Terry also served an active duty tour in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Commander after 27 years in the Naval Reserves, which makes him an Veteran as well.

His Goddard for Governor campaign website is: www.terrygoddard.com.

Last week I posted a blog about Terry’s family (click here) but I will republish a recent Goddard family photo here. His son Kevin is 11 years old (6th grader).

Kevin, Monica, and Terry Goddard

Vote wisely on or before November 2nd.

The Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC) debate between Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett and his Democratic challenger Arizona House Rep.Chris Deschene, is scheduled for September 22 at 7 p.m. Bennett is participating in the “clean” elections program, Deschene is running traditionally.

It will be an online debate on Horizon KAET Channel 8, with the video being available online thereafter at: ww.azpbs.org/vote2010 and http://www.azcleanelections.gov/home.aspx (Clean Elections website within 72 hours).

Ken Bennett was appointed to this position after Jan Brewer (then Secretary of State) assumed her appointed position as Governor in January, 2009. He was born in Tucson, raised in Prescott, attended Yavapai College and graduated from ASU (accounting degree). He served on the Prescott City Council, then 4 terms in the State Senate from LD 1 (and was President of the Senate for four years). His campaign website is www.bennettarizona.com.

Because Kennett was not elected to this Secretary of State position (like the Lt. Governor in some states, to succeed the Governor), elected Attorney General Terry Goddard is the next in line to the Governor, until the next election on November 2, 2010.

Chris Deschene is a freshman Representative in the Arizona House (LD 2), born in California and raised near Page, Arizona on the Navajo Indian Reservation. He got his B.S. degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, then his M.S. degree (also in Mechanical Engineering) concurrent with a law degree from ASU. He served for 10 years in the U.S.Marine Corps (rank of Major), and now has his own law practice. See www.descheneforarizona.com.

Watch this debate and others between these two men and vote wisely on Nov. 2nd as this is the person that assumes the Governorship should the Governor leave the office for any reason (even when temporarily out of state).

The KUAT Channel 6 debate in Tucson between these 2 candidates was held on September 17 and can be viewed by clicking here.

Secretary of State Ken Bennett

Chris Deschene