Recanvass confirm’s primary win for Blackburn

Published 9:35 am Friday, June 1, 2018

In less than 15 minutes Thursday morning, Clark County election officials confirmed Magistrate Pam Blackburn’s two-vote win in last week’s primary election.

Blackburn is running for her fourth term on the Clark County Fiscal Court, while challenger Kevin Warner was seeking his first.

Their race in the Democratic primary was easily the closest in this election, and Warner requested the recanvass shortly thereafter, mainly because it was so close, he said.

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Thursday morning, the two candidates and the Clark County Board of Elections reviewed the paper records from the six precincts in the second district as well as the absentee votes.

At the end, it affirmed Blackburn’s 463-461 victory. She now faces Republican candidate Travis Thompson in November.

The narrow margin “shows how important it is to get out and vote,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn said low voter turnout played a factor as well. Election officials estimated Clark County’s turnout at less than 30 percent.

Warner said he was satisfied with the results.

“Nothing changed,” he said. “It was a close race. I think both sides worked equally hard on making a change for the county.

“We just got beat and two votes is heartbreaking, but that’s the way political things go.”

Clark County Clerk Michelle Turner said no one else requested a recanvass.

“Thank you for running a clean race,” Blackburn said.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Warner said.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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