SF City Councilwoman Theresa Stehly intends to demand recount despite costs, and no probability of success.

The Argus Leader is reporting today that despite the cost to do so, Theresa Stehly is sparing no expense and will be demanding the first ever recount for a Sioux Falls City Council race:

As Stehly had already made clear, she’ll be asking for the first-ever recount in a City Council race, which she reaffirmed on Tuesday night.

and…

Greco said he did not have an exact cost for the recount, but said that a “reasonable estimate” would be $1,500 per day.

Read the entire story here.

Frankly, this seems to be an exercise in vanity more than anything, in the day and age where ballots are counted by machine. Years ago, when ballots were marked and counted by hand, you might be able to effectively argue votes.  Now in the days of machine ballot tabulation – good luck with that one.  There would have to be a massive screw-up to change the kind of numbers that Theresa Stehly needs to win.

Fox example, look at the last general election, where Sen. Blake Curd’s race went to recount in a close vote:

Curd ended the night with a slim margin of 27 votes after the canvass and a recount was requested.

How far did the recount move the margin?  In Minnehaha County, the recount dropped 2 votes for Curd, and added none for his opponent.  Two votes. 

In the Lincoln County portion of the district, he lost another vote, again, picking up none for the opponent.  That’s ONE.

Between the official canvass, and the recount, Curd lost a total of three votes, and his opponent picked up none.  Zilch.

Outside of a massive error that would have to had been missed by the official canvass board, in the day and age of machine tabulation, I sincerely believe there’s no way that they’re going to mysteriously discover a collective error of as many votes as Stehly needs.

Stehly lost by 109 votes in a close race. No matter how much she wants to spend in taxpayer funds, or whines about people picking on her, the result is not going to change.

Interestingly, Theresa’s supporters are out throwing sewage on the process already, claiming that the person who Alex Jensen may choose to represent himself in the recount is a “rat from the SD GOP.” Nice. That might be the largest ‘tell’ in all of this as to why she was only the third incumbent ever ousted from the City Council.

Considering the closeness of the vote, and the historic and overwhelming resistance of Sioux Falls residents to change – especially in the middle of a crisis such as COVID-19 – if Theresa and her supporters had channeled all that nastiness and negativity into running anything resembling an actual campaign, she wouldn’t be in the losing position.

But enough voters had decided they’d long seen too much of what Theresa brought to the table. And they sent her on her way.

 

18 thoughts on “SF City Councilwoman Theresa Stehly intends to demand recount despite costs, and no probability of success.”

  1. And contrast that to the Rapid City news reports that when Jerry Wright was informed a recount in his city council race would cost the city money, he dropped his request for one.

  2. I can see a recount when it is around a 10 vote margin but otherwise, usually they don’t change things.

  3. Just a disclaimer, I left this race blank on my ballot. Based on what I saw on the various news outlets and the mess that Litz had during the counting process, I think any candidate should demand a recount-legislative or city council. If Mr. Jensen is declared the winner, I truly hope he is an independent thinker and conducts his due diligence on every issue. Stehly’s grandstanding is tiring, but she was not afraid to ask the questions that were needed. Regardless of cost, I think a recount should be conducted to ensure integrity of the process.

  4. in all fairness, if the outcome was reversed, would jensen and his supporters want a recount? in that case i’m sure the outrage over the cost would be completely overlooked. it would be all about fairness. 109 votes in an election that surely appears to have some pretty big flaws deserves a recount. if jensen wins, he wins. frankly i don’t care because nothing will change on the council anyway. instead of 5-3, it’ll be 6-2.

  5. I am 100% confident nothing will change.

    I also think having a recount will put to rest any doubt on the outcome which is good for our city politic.

    It is within her right to ask for it. She has asked for it. Let’s have it and move on.

    Congrats Alex. You will be a great member.

  6. I am torn on this election. I wanted Teresa to win because I think Alex will be just another go along. I also got SO tired of her Antics and Crying Wolf over everything, it really got old and fast but, I was willing to look past that. I wish more voters would look at their voting record and actions vs how they present or what they say. This is how we got Obama 2x as we was a smooth talker and looked the part but, in practice, horrible president.

      1. You read that wrong. I didn’t equate Stehly to Obama I was equating Jensen to Obama. Jensen is polished smooth talker like Obama. Stehly is crass, ornery, and sometimes just rude as hell but, her voting record is pretty good.

        1. Mr. Jensen is a polished young fellow, almost too polished. Ms. Stehly, a very pretty young woman herself, is no brownnoser, that is true. She is also vulgar and obnoxious and seems to be paranoid and insaner than most. Sioux Falls loses either way. Sioux Falls always loses.

          1. I prefer to wait until the guy actually has a chance to make a name for himself before I declare Sioux Falls the loser. Cannot agree with you on this one Mr. G. You may be right, but I’ll wait until he has a chance to vote before I decide.

  7. I posted a comment on another of your recent Stehly recount-related posts, posing a question as to how many other candidates on any 6/2/20 ballots had requested recounts – and what their political affiliations may have been. Yes, you did publish my question, but only another commenter answered with the information I knew to be true: a number of other Republican primary candidates have requested recounts. Are you too biased to acknowledge “inconvenient truths” Pat, which might cast a less than favorable light on your highly slanted stances?

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