A family of five could make all the difference in this race.
Robert Scattini’s lead over incumbent Peggy Corrales for the
Hollister City Council District 2 seat is a mere four votes
– 395 to 391.
A family of five could make all the difference in this race.
Robert Scattini’s lead over incumbent Peggy Corrales for the Hollister City Council District 2 seat is a mere four votes – 395 to 391. All precincts have reported, but election workers must still count 2,128 absentee and provisional ballots from the county.
Of the remaining ballots to be counted, Election supervisor Kim Hawk said less than 100 – and probably closer to 30 or 40 – are from District 2, and those are the only relevant ballots for this race.
Hawk confirmed County Clerk John Hodges’ previous appraisal that the county cannot release a final tabulation for about two weeks.
Hawk spent Wednesday verifying signatures on absentee ballots and began processing the uncounted ballots.
And today, Hawk said her staff will begin the “canvassing” process. For that, officials choose random precincts and hand-count the ballots.
“It’s a process,” Hodges said.
After canvassing is complete, county officials can make an announcement on an official winner. Hawk said until then, the county will not release updates on the race.
Hodges said his staff normally takes two or three days off after election night to “clean and organize.” But with such a close race, the staff did not waste any time starting the process, Hodges said. The hectic pre-election mood of weeks past in the office did not wane Wednesday.
The candidates both said they are relaxed after Hodges briefed them on the situation. Corrales called Hodges after midnight on election night, and Scattini spoke with him late Wednesday morning.
“I slept,” Corrales said about Tuesday night’s tense moments. “I just have to sit back and wait… We just have to follow the process.”
Scattini spent part of Wednesday taking down campaign signs from area lawns and going about normal business as county marshal.
“Not much I can do,” Scattini said.
Other elections have experienced similar scenarios in recent years, so Hodges said his staff would not panic and certainly would not rush.
“We just take our time,” Hawk said. “We don’t hurry up to get it through.”
One election 12 years ago had a Hollister City Council race ending in a tie, even after all absentee and provisional counts, Hodges said. Mark Ernie Shifner and Matt Escover were the candidates and officials could only figure out one solution to break the tie.
“They drew straws,” Hodges said. Shifner drew the biggest straw.
Another candidate in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Fernando Gonzalez, was involved in three different close races for Hollister City Council – each decided by 35 votes or less. Gonzalez was victorious once in that span.
Even after county officials announce an official winner, the possibility exists the loser may request a hand re-count. The candidate must, however, finance the re-count process.
“We supply the labor,” Hodges said. “They watch over our shoulder.”
Hodges could remember one instance of a hand re-count in recent years. Richard Place lost an election to Ruth Kesler for District 2 county Supervisor in 2000.
“He just couldn’t believe he lost,” Hodges said.
Place put up money to start the re-count that year but stopped midway through, Hodges said.
Corrales would not consider the possibility of financing a re-count until official totals are released.
“I can’t answer that,” she said.
While running for sheriff more than two decades ago, Scattini lost a close election and financed a re-count. While he still lost that election, Scattini gained seven votes. Regardless of the outcome this time, Scattini said he would not ask for a re-count.
“I’ll be happy with the results,” Scattini said. “I think I did pretty well considering I had a late start.”
In District 3, Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia won her race more handily, defeating Challenger Randy Pfeifer by 8 percent of the vote.
