A series of email requests for vote totals from a @WedgeLIVE Senior Producer was followed by an official recount, bringing a change in results from April 15th’s LHENA Board election. Jono Cowgill, who had previously trailed by two votes for the final two-year term, gained enough votes in a recount process to be declared a winner on Sunday.
There is now a tie for the sixth and final two-year term, between Sara Romanishan and John Edwards (me). As the LHENA bylaws do not specify a formal tie-breaking procedure, President Foreman has called for a community vote on May 20, at 6 pm, to decide whether to add an additional seat to the Board of Directors. President Foreman notified me on Sunday morning that she was rescinding my LHENA-provided security detail pending a bylaw change.
The rule of thumb for recounts is that the candidate with the most transient/lazy/uneducated supporters will gain votes. It’s possible that some of Mr. Cowgill’s Millennial voters marked their ballots using emojis, which may have confused vote counters. Another rule of thumb about recounts is that winners do not request them (we’re currently looking for a new @WedgeLIVE Senior Producer).
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| We leave it to the League of Women Voters to interpret this ballot. |
The official announcement from LHENA’s President:
Because our recent LHENA board election was so extremely close, LHENA staff recommended a recount of the ballots. We asked the League of Women Voters and Neighborhood and Community Relations to assist us in a recount which was completed earlier this week.
The recount resulted in a change to the board membership.
Jono Cowgill is a new board member. Welcome Jono!
Saralyn Romanishan and John Edwards tied for the remaining board seat.
LHENA bylaws have no stated policies in terms of what to do in the case of a tie.
In order to come to a speedy resolution, I would like to call a special meeting of the members to meet before our next board meeting on Wednesday May 20th at 6:00pm at Jefferson School Media Center, for the purpose of adding one two-year term board seat bringing the total board membership up to 12 members. This would allow for both John and Sara to be on the board.
After the special meeting, the board will meet for the regular monthly board meeting and elect officers.
I am excited to harness the talent and energy of the new and the returning board members.
The Lowry HIll East Neighborhood Association encourages the participation of all residents.
The results of the recount supervised by the League of Women Voters are:
2 Year Term – six seats open
Katie Jones Schmitt – 82 – Board Seat
Beth Harrington – 61 – Board Seat
Paul Ryan – 58 – Board Seat
Michael Friedman – 56 – Board Seat
Jono Cowgill – 55 – Board Seat
John Edwards – 54 Tie
Saralyn Romanishan – 54 Tie
Nathan Jorgenson – 52
Sue Bode- 49
Ryan Goeken – 46
Mark Greenwald – 45
Jeff Juul – 41
Erik Ernst – 37
One Year Term – one seat open
Frank Brown – 53 – Board Seat
Scott Hargarten – 49
Thank you.
Leslie Foreman
President
Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association