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Kingston council candidate will not pursue recount in Loyalist-Cataraqui district

Following a close election race in Loyalist-Cataraqui district Monday, the runner-up has decided against a costly battle for a recount. CKWS TV

Loyalist-Cataraqui district candidate Jacqui Collier has announced that she will not be pursuing a recount of the municipal election ballots that resulted in her narrow loss to Paul Chaves.

Chaves won the Kingston, Ont., district by a mere 35 votes out of 3,383 cast. A little over one per cent of the vote was all that separated the two candidates.

Following the election, Collier reached out to the city to request a recount and says she was told that, according to a municipal bylaw, a recount would only be automatically triggered by a tie in the vote count.

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“With thousands of votes cast and a razor-thin margin determining the election in my district of Loyalist-Cataraqui, I had hoped the clerk would be able to conduct a double-check with a recount. It seems good practice to do so when the margin is so very narrow,” says Collier.

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The municipal candidate says she has spent the days since the election exploring another option, applying to the Superior Court of Justice to order that the clerk hold a recount. But Collier says she has decided against it. “Following investigation of the process required for a recount, between potential legal costs and the involved processes, I’ve decided not to pursue a recount at this time.”

In a statement released Friday, Collier said, “I have great respect and faith in our democratic process and our city staff. I love our beautiful Kingston, and I will continue to work gratefully and diligently for its betterment through the many organizations I’m privileged to be part of as a private citizen. I extend my best wishes to all of our incoming councillors on a wonderful term ahead.”

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