Washington Election is Now Certifiable
Thursday, December 30, 2004
After a hand recount, Democrat Christine Gregoire has been declared Washington’s new Governor Elect. Though fraught with problems, the third tally has shown Gregoire ahead by 129 votes. Some say that the election is still up in the air, as Republican Dino Rossi won the first two tallies. However, this third tally is the last allowed by state law, until the inevitable appeal to the judicial system.
this third tally is the last allowed by state law
In a letter to Gregoire on Wednesday, Rossi expressed worry that the problems surrounding the election had shaken voter confidence. Through the last six weeks, Rossi has showed that his opinion of the integrity of American democracy has not changed. "Quite frankly, folks, this election has been a total mess," Rossie said. Rossie believes that the will of the people of Washington should be allowed to select Washington’s chief Executive despite the results of the election.
Political wrangling aside, whenever an election is this close we are always reminded of the little people. Little people like Kent Oreschmitt, who was standing in line when polls opened. Oreschmitt, a self admitted Gregoire fanatic, voted 329 times before returning home to Vancouver, BC. It could be theorized that without Oreschmitt’s votes, Gregoire would have found it much more difficult to win the election.
Quite frankly, folks, this election has been a total mess.
Rossi and the Republican Party have about 3 weeks to decide what they are going to do about the election. Instead of a long drawn-out legal battle, it is expected that Rossi will be pushing for a re-vote. "A revote would be the best solution for the people of our state and would give us a legitimate governorship," he said.
But beware Rossi. In the event of a recount, Kent Oreschmitt will be coming back. When asked what his plans where, Oreschmitt just smiled and said, “It's 143 miles to Seattle, I've got a full tank of gas, a half a pack of cigarettes, three hundred and fifty pieces of false identification and I’m off my medication.”
