Recount confirms Mitton win in Memramcook-Tantramar
Judicial recount of more than 8,200 ballots took three days
Megan Mitton's 11-vote victory for the Green Party over Liberal Bernard LeBlanc in Memramcook-Tantramar was confirmed by a judicial recount that finished Friday.
The results after the three-day recount by a judge in aMonctoncourtroom remained exactly as initially reported by Elections NB.
Mittonsaid the result wasa relief.
- Thousands of votes left to count in Memramcook-Tantramar
- Memramcook-Tantramar recount could take days
"I'm feeling honoured that I did receive the most votes and I'm going to be able to represent the riding in Fredericton," she said outside theMonctoncourthouse.
She said she'll start setting up her riding office. Mitton said she's notsure when she'll be sworn in as an MLA. She is one of three for the Green Party. The party added two seats in the election.
LeBlancand his brother requested the recount, whichbegan Wednesday morning. It was one of three recounts across the province.
About 2,700 votes were left to count Friday morning of the 8,213 cast in the riding in the election Sept. 24.
Both LeBlanc and Mitton were in the courtroom watching the recount.
After the results were confirmed, Mitton said,LeBlanc walked over to her and shook her hand, offering his congratulations.
"I'm glad the result is complete," LeBlanc said outside the courthouse. "The people down in our area what to make sure, since the count was close, we wanted to make surethat it was proper. That's been done and number hasn't changed."
Mitton received 3,148 votes and LeBlanc, who held the seat in the last legislature, received 3,137. Progressive Conservative candidate Etienne Gaudet received 1,518 votes, and NDP candidate Hlne Boudreau 410.
LeBlancsaid the recount showed that the vote tabulator machines very accurate.
Spoiled ballot challenge dropped
Only one spoiled ballot had been contested by Thursday evening.
The ballot had an 'X' by Mitton's name, but a slight mark beside another candidate's name. With marks beside two names, it was deemed a spoiled ballot.
The challenge to that was dropped after all the other votes were counted and the results stayed the same.
'Take a rest'
As to his future, LeBlancsaid he plans to "take a rest, but I'm still a big, huge Liberal."
The cost of the recount will be paid by Elections NB.
A recount is automatically granted when requested in a riding where the margin of victory is within 25 votes.
_(720p).jpg)
 OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO.jpg)
.jpg)
