Final election numbers confirm tight races; no recount will be needed

Crested Butte sales tax loses by three votes

There will be no mandatory recount for any of the close election races conducted this past November 4 in Gunnison County. The final vote count was completed by the county elections office Wednesday, November 12 and none of the races met the state requirements for a mandatory recount. That includes the town of Crested Butte sales tax proposal that was defeated by just three votes, 400 to 397.
According to state law, a recount is held “when the difference between the highest number of votes cast in an election contest and the next higher number in the same contest is less than or equal to one-half of one percent of the highest vote cast in that election.” Thus in this case, three votes divided by 400 equals .0075 percent or three-quarters of one percent, which is over the one-half of one percent threshold.

Final numbers for the other two close county races showed the same result as initially tabulated and announced November 5. After tallying 104 provisional and military ballots, Debbie Dunbar won the race for county treasurer over William Spicer 3,344 to 3,321, a mere 23-vote difference, or .0068 percent.
The sheriff’s race stayed the same after the final vote as well, with Rick Besecker garnering 3,447 versus Scott Jackson’s 3,339 votes.
“As this was the first year the state of Colorado and the Gunnison County Elections Division conducted a general election by all mail ballots, we are extremely pleased with the performance of our election judges and staff,” said county election official Diane Followell. “But is wasn’t always easy. We are already reviewing our policies and procedures in order to improve the voting experience for the voters of Gunnison County in the next coordinated election.”