Results trigger a recount for Watts, Counts
Knight, McClendon win seats on City Council
The general election is over for two candidates, having won seats on the City Council, but for two of the candidates, it’s not over yet. Only five votes separate Karen Watts and Gregory Counts, triggering a recount.
According to the final unofficial results of Tuesday’s general election, Watts, a nurse practitioner and business owner, received 3,261 votes, or 43 percent of the ballots cast. Counts, a retired Yuma police officer, netted 3,256 votes, or 43 percent.
The five-vote separation triggers an automatic recount, according to Arizona statutes. The city will follow the recount procedure outlined in the state law, a city press release said.
During the Tuesday election, Yuma voters had the opportunity to elect three at-large seats on the council. A total of 7,579 ballots were cast, including early ballots and poll results from three voting centers.
After the final count on Wednesday, Deputy Mayor Gary Knight remained the top vote-getter, with 3,669 votes, or 48 percent. Former councilwoman Leslie McClendon received 3,289 votes, or 43 percent. Both have secured seats on the council.
“I’m very happy with the results so far. It’s very comforting to know that the voters have approved of what I’ve been doing and the way the city’s moving forward,” Knight said Tuesday. “I think that was the message that I tried to get out there, that we have moved forward with the things we said we would do with the last election, and now we need to tackle some other issues, mainly public safety and our roads, roll up our sleeves and get it done. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I wanted to thank everyone who helped me in my campaign whether it was a vote, a donation or a campaign sign in your yard or business, I say thank you so much,” McClendon said in an email. “I know it’s close, and we still are on pins and needles and it definitely will be a big relief to have
this over and the results final.”
For Ken Rosevear and Kristina Rojas-McNair, the election is over. Rosevear, retired executive director of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, got 3,187 votes, or 42 percent. Rojas-McNair, a manager at Yuma Regional Medical Center, received 2,819 votes, or 37 percent.
Percentages reflect a percentage of the total number of ballots cast, rather than a percentage of the total number of votes cast, because council seats are considered at-large and each ballot may contain up to three votes.
Mayor Doug Nicholls and Presiding Judge James Coil were both re-elected to four-year terms as a result of the Aug. 29 election, having each exceeded 50 percent of the vote.
Votes will become official once canvassed by the Yuma City Council.