Burgoyne Asking Full Recount

Ann Arbor attorney Shirley J. Burgoyne has announced she will seek a recount of the county's 164 precincts and absentee voter counting boards to determine the winner of the Circuit Court race. Mrs. Burgoyne lost that race, according to the official county canvass, by 70 votes to District Judge Edward D. Deake. The unofficial returns compiled election night, however, showed Mrs. Burgoyne the winner of that contest by some 627 votes. County voters selected two Circuit Court judges from among four contestants in the non-partisan election. Judge Patrick J. Conlin was the easy first place winner but the second place finish is one of the closest in county history. The official election canvass shows Judge Deake with 37,542 votes compared to 37,472 for Mrs. Burgoyne. Unofficial tallies compiled election night and early the following morning showed Mrs. Burgoyne with 37,935 and Judge Deake with 37,378. In a statement released today, Mrs. Burgoyne said: "There were several reasbns for the 627 vote difference between the official canvass and the unofficial canvass. The fact that there was such a large discrepency raises a number of questions and suggests that if the official count uncovered such a large error that more errors are possible in a recount. "I'm certain that all of the election officials were conscientious, concerned citizens who made honest mistakes due to the long lines and late hours. For example, the Ann Arbor absentee ballots were counted almost entirely in the middle of the night and the returns were not in until approximately 8 a.m. It is difficult to count ballots without any rest throughout the night and do so without - " t- - - - v A error. "For the recount I would like moral and financial support from citizens as I feel it is important to all Washtenaw County that a correct and final tally be made. Regardless of the final result, I want to thank everyone who supported me throughout the lengthy campaign. "If the result of the recount does not result in my election as Circuit judge to take office on Jan. i, 1973, it is hoped that the recount will at least have the effect of improving the election procedures in Washtenaw County and benefiting the electorate of ttíe county. "If the recount confirms that I have lost in this election, I intend to give Judge Deake my support, continue to practice law and run again when the opportunity comes." According to local officials, the recount of the Circuit judge's race will be a state-supervised recount. Mrs. Burgoyne will formally request the recount after the state Board of Canvassers has certified the election. Such a recount costs the candidate requesting the tally $5 per precinct recounted. . ■- - -