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Recount ordered in West Vancouver civic election

A judicial recount request in West Vancouver's civic election is now before a B.C. provincial court judge. Global News/File

A B.C. provincial court judge has ordered a recount in the West Vancouver civic election.

Just 21 votes separated mayoral candidate Mark Sager from mayor-elect and former councillor Mary-Ann Booth.

Also, council hopeful Jim Finkbeiner fell 20 votes short of a seat.

The court has ordered the recount to take place on Thursday.

The application was filed by Finkbeiner and former mayor Michael Smith who endorsed Sager during the election campaign.

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In their application both candidates allege the Chief Election Officer “failed to properly adjudicate the determination of official election results and declined to conduct the official determination in a reasonable way by failing to conduct some form of recount ‘by hand.”

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“That a ballot account does not accurately record the number of valid votes for the candidates and that the final determination did not correctly calculate the total number of valid votes for a candidate.”

The application is asking for a proper recount of both the mayoral and council election results to be undertaken by the court on Nov. 1.

If a judge rules a recount, it must be completed by Friday.

In Peachland, the decision came down to a “drawing of lot” which means a name was essentially pulled out of a hat after Monday’s judicial recount once again determined a tie.

Cindy Fortin and challenger Harry Gough were tied at 804 votes each. Fortin won the draw on Monday and will continue on as mayor.

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