Peachland is Florida in 2000

Every vote counts, just ask the fine folks in Peachland and those who live on the outskirts of Penticton.

Peachland has drawn attention from the national media — not because of its fabulous boardwalk and great restaurants — but because of a tie.

It’s Florida 2000 all over again, but right here in the Okanagan.

Incumbent Cindy Fortin and challenger Harry Gough both have — at least at this moment — 804 votes. A judicial recount is scheduled for this morning in Kelowna.

With recounts, there could be some debate over spoiled ballots. Occasionally, someone will put some form of marking in both boxes, presumably because they realized they made a mistake.

If still tied, the winner will be declared by lot.

In the old days, the returning officer didn’t vote and, if in the event of a tie, would cast the deciding vote. What it did was open up that person for accusations of bias.

We can make lots of jokes on how to settle the tie — steelcage fighting, a black box cookoff — but, for both candidates, it’s far from a laughing matter.

The perfect solution is to drop the two unsuccessful mayoral candidates and have a new election, a head-to-head race between Fortin and Gough.

That way, the citizens would decide.

But, when the council of the day did its election rules, it never imagined a tie for the mayor’s spot.

To quote outgoing Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit — lesson learned.

And, hopefully it’s a lesson for the voters. There has to be at least one Cindy Fortin or Harry Gough fan out there who didn’t bother to vote. That person could have made the difference.

Also of note is an 11-vote victory for rural trustee in Area 3 (Kaleden, Naramata, West Bench, Penticton Indian Reserve.) Kathy Pierre upset incumbent Ginny Manning by 11 only votes.

Ordinarily, people would be gasping at how close the margin of victory is.

And, while it’s true that a single vote didn’t propel Pierre to victory, 11 is pretty darn close. There are obviously people who didn’t vote who could have swung the outcome.

We, and all other media outlets, always harp on the importance of voting and exercising your civic duty.

Maybe the events in Peachland and rural Penticton will convince people that every vote does count.