69 Votes Missed in Cameron County Judge's Race Final Count
by Laura B. Martinez and Emma Perez-Trevino, The Brownsville Herald
The outcome of the Cameron County judge's race became even more controversial on Monday with the discovery of 69 votes that were left off the final tally for Nov. 2 general election.
With additional votes, the unofficial results have Republican incumbent Judge Carlos Cascos ahead of Democratic challenger John Wood by 64 votes.
Wood, Cameron County Pct. 2 commissioner, was previously reported to have pulled ahead of Cascos by five votes on Nov. 14 after it was discovered by election workers that a second tally sheet from polling Pct. 54 had not been added to the final tally from the recount held Nov. 12-13.
The official recount results, which were signed off by Elections Administrator Roger Ortiz, had Cascos winning the election by 50 votes.
The discovery of the additional 69 votes was made when Cascos and his campaign workers reviewed the tally sheets from the Nov. 2 general election on Monday afternoon.
According to tally sheets pertaining to the early vote, 66 Republican straight-party votes from Port Isabel and three votes from Cameron Park for Cascos were not included in Ortiz’s final report.
Cascos said the “mathematical error” by Ortiz indicates that he continues to be the winner of the county judge’s race.
“That is where my lead (from the early vote returns) went in these two tally sheets,” Cascos said, adding that he was sending an e-mail to Ortiz to point out the error that shifted the election.
“I want him to look at it himself and to make the appropriate corrections to the report,” Cascos said, adding that if Ortiz refuses to make the adjustment he will consider taking the issue to court.
Ortiz did not return telephone calls to The Brownsville Herald on Monday seeking comment on the discovery of the uncounted votes.
In a press release issued through state Rep. Rene Oliveira’s law firm, Wood said, “Throughout this process, I have insisted that each and every vote be counted, whether it was for me or Carlos Cascos. Our election process is a fundamental part of our great country, and I will stand by the will of the people.”
He went onto state, “I am doing my own review of the raw data tally sheets, and other documents provided to me and Carlos Cascos on Saturday, November 20th. I will consider this analysis and the recount of Precinct 54 conducted by Mr. Ortiz before I make a decision on how to proceed.”
In regards the discovery of the additional 69 votes for Cascos, Frank J. Morris, Republican Party chairman for Cameron County, said that this tells him that the historic three to five vote-variation from a recount stands.
“To have had this much of a swing (55 votes) sends off red flags and for the Elections Office not to look at this and only concentrate on Pct. 54 does a disservice to the voters of Cameron County,” Morris said.
Jared Hockema, vice-chair for the Cameron County Democratic Party, released a statement on behalf of the party late Monday in regards to the discovery of the additional votes.
"(Monday’s) announcement, and the revelations that preceded it, raise serious questions about the conduct of elections in Cameron County.,” the release stated. “Before today, the tally sheets from this election had not been furnished to our candidate, and we did not have the opportunity to review them. Our concerns were based on disparities evident in reported figures in the news media. Each succeeding announcement of changes, or discrepancies, heightens our concern. From the beginning, we have asked only that each vote to be counted, and have dedicated ourselves to the pursuit of that end. If today's announcement that additional corrections to the tabulation of the tally sheets from the recount is correct, then we accept that result. However, we renew our call that the transparency and reliability of elections be improved, and will continue working to that end."
Canvassing the returns
The discovery of the additional 69 votes came hours after the Cameron County Commissioners Court Monday approved the canvassing of the precinct election recount returns from the Nov. 2 general election race for county judge.
Cascos and Woods shook hands before Monday morning’s special meeting, which was attended by at least 200 people. Cameron County sheriff’s deputies were in the courtroom to maintain order.
The vote was described as a “ministerial” or administrative act that Commissioners Court is required to make by law.
The canvassing report that Ortiz turned over to commissioners Monday did not include the Nov. 14 revision that had Wood winning the election, but did include Ortiz’s explanation of how events unfolded.
Ortiz said a recount of polling Pct. 54 is scheduled for 3 p.m. today in his office. Ballots from Pct. 54 are the ones that pushed Wood ahead of Cascos.
After Monday’s meeting, Wood expressed disappointment about how the Commissioners Court vote was handled, claiming he and Pct. 1 Commissioner Sofia C. Benavides did not have a chance to vote or abstain from voting because Cascos rushed the item through.
“We did not have an opportunity to voice any vote. He called it fast and away it went,” Wood said. “We didn’t have an opportunity to say ‘nay.’ ”
Cascos countered that he conducted Monday’s meeting as he normally conducts all Commissioners Court meetings.
“I asked for a motion, a second, all in favor...I didn’t hear anybody say ‘no,’ ” he said.
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