A recount by the St. Joseph County Board of Canvassers affirmed Judy Gilchrist as the winner of the First District commissioner seat in the November 3rd general election by one vote over George Ramsey. Shown here in clockwise fashion from the left are Beverly Burnham, Jodie Coleman, Judy Gilchrist, Lisa and George Ramsey, Jim Wetherbee and Marcy Bennett.

A recount of ballots cast in the November 3rd general election has affirmed that Judy Gilchrist was the winner of the First District commissioner seat on the Three Rivers City Commission by one vote over George Ramsey – but the seat will need to be filled by someone else after Gilchrist’s post-recount announcement that she will be stepping down from the post.

The St. Joseph County Board of Canvassers conducted the recount Friday morning (November 13th) in the Commission Chambers at Three Rivers City Hall during an hour-long process coordinated by County Clerk Pattie Bender.  The recount was requested by Ramsey who lost the election – 207 to 206.

The Board of Canvassers consists of four persons – Marcy Bennett of Three Rivers and Jodie Coleman of Colon, representing the Democratic Party, and Beverly Burnham of Centreville and Jim Wetherbee of Three Rivers, representing the Republican Party.

Friday’s activity revealed that the figures reported after the election – and subsequently certified by the Board of Canvassers – held up in the recount process.

In comments following the recount, Gilchrist said, “When I first started to run, I wasn’t in school and right now I am in school and that is going to be a conflict with me being able to make the meetings.  I have full confidence and I believe in George and I’m going to have to step down.”

Gilchrist said, “I apologize to everyone who got out and voted for me, but it is a conflict and I’m not going to be able to do what I should be doing for the citizens.”

Although Gilchrist expressed support for Ramsey to serve in the position, Bender said, “That will be an appointment by the city commission.”

Gilchrist was sworn in Monday evening (November 9th), just prior to the annual organizational meeting conducted by the Three Rivers City Commission.

Following the recount, City Clerk Lindsay Howes, who oversees elections in the city, had praise for election workers and said the outcome “shows what a good job they’re doing.”  (Lindsay_Howes_audio clip – :13)

During a post-recount conversation with the River Country Journal’s Bruce Snook, Judy Gilchrist discussed her decision to step down from the First District commissioner post:  (Judy_Gilchrist_interview – 1:57)

George Ramsey also talked with Bruce Snook following the recount and said, “The recount just shows the reliability of our voting procedure.”  (George_Ramsey audio_clip – :50)

For an additional perspective on this post, click on the link that follows to access a Kalamazoo Gazette story by Jeff Barr:  Three Rivers City Commission recount ends with a surprise

Editor’s Note:  This story was expanded at 8:59 p.m. 11-13-09 to add the audio components that appear at the end of the post and at 10:40 p.m. to include the link to the Kalamazoo Gazette story.