Re-count leaves Ventura Schools one vote short of bond passage; But vote may be contested
    In 32 years of service on the Ventura School Board Larry Costello thought he had seen it all. 
    Ken Kline may have thought the same thing of his 15 years as Commissioner of Elections in Cerro Gordo County.
    They were both wrong.
    A re-count Monday of  votes cast Dec. 4 concerning a $2.75 million bond proposal for the Ventura School District yielded one more “yes” vote, but left the district just shy of the percentage needed to pass the issue.  But the election may be set aside and a new one scheduled.
    The initial count following the Dec. 4 vote was 293-199, or 59.6 percent in favor of passage, but the measure needed 60 percent approval.  A recount held Monday adjusted the numbers slightly, but left the district with 59.96 percent approval.  Still not enough for passage.
    Kline said for the first time in his 15 years as County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections there may be a contested election.  He is aware of three allegations of misconduct at the polling site and Auditor’s Office which may provide for the election to be set aside and a new one held, probably within two to three months.
    According to Kline, if a petition bearing the names of 10 or more persons eligible to vote in the Ventura School District is presented to his office, along with a bond sufficient to cover court costs within 20 days, a District Court judge will set a trial date to hear the matter.  If the judge determines there was fraud or misconduct, the vote could be set aside and a new one scheduled within a reasonable time frame.
    Kline expected to meet with the two co-chairpersons from the Ventura polling site on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 11.  He said there are allegations that two persons were refused provisional ballots at the polls.  A third allegation involves a person delivering an absentee ballot to the polling site on election day.  That person was reportedly given misinformation about the eligibility of the ballot and instead of taking the ballot to the courthouse by 8 p.m., it was mistakenly taken to the Post Office and postmarked with the date.  The ballot was not used because it arrived after the election.
    Kline said he is investigating the allegations.
    “It doesn’t make sense to me that persons weren’t given provisional ballots when others were that day, but I wasn’t at the site,” said Kline.  He added that he has spoken to workers within his office and none recall discussing the absentee ballot with poll workers.  “Again, it is difficult to understand how that would have happened.  The people in this office and very schooled in the rules and regulations surrounding elections.”
    Because just one of those votes could change the outcome, a contested election is a possibility.
    School Board President Larry Costello said his board may discuss the issue as early as tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 12).  The group was already scheduled to meet for contract negotiations.
    “In my 32 years on the board, I thought I’d had everything,” said Costello.  “I believe laws need to be followed and 60 percent was needed for passage, so this was a defeat.  But there were a couple of things that happened and not handled correctly.”  Costello said he was a poll watcher and witnessed persons refused ballots.
    “At this time I am in favor of setting aside the vote, but  we need to talk to backers of the issue and see what they want to do-- discuss the pros and cons.”
    A delay of the usually-required six-month span between votes will no doubt mean the cost of the high school renovation project and new wing for science classrooms will rise.
    “It’s been a real civics lesson for our seniors-- for all of us,” said Ventura Superintendent Dan Versteeg.  “We all know of at least a few people who meant to vote, and didn’t.  It underlines the fact that every vote counts”