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Ballot recount will continue for at least a week more, with big villages still ahead
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by Zita Taitano, KUAM News
Saturday, November 13, 2004
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The Guam Election Commission projects at least another week of recounting close to 30,000 ballots from the Decision 2004 General Election. This morning GEC executive director Gerry Taitano says members of the GEC Board of Directors and staff from the agency, along with representatives from Guam's Republican and Democrat parties completed the recount of the tri-village area of Mongmong-Toto-Maite.
And in the afternoon, he says they were to look over the precincts in Barrigada. "Then after Barrigada, we'll go right into Mangilao and then hopefully break at around 8 or 9 o'clock. Then tomorrow we'll start with Tamuning, and that will take us about 3 days," he summarized of his group's ongoing effort.
Taitano says from there, they will begin on Dededo and finally Yigo. The GEC director added that with the way things are going, they should hopefully be done by next weekend. Now with the counting of MTM already finished, Taitano says Senator Joanne Brown is now ahead of Speaker Ben Pangelinan by 14 votes for the 15th legislative seat. When asked if the two lawmakers will pass the 13th and 14th positions held by incumbent senators Lou Leon Guerrero and Rory Respicio, Taitano says there is a possibility, but contends they will only stick with the 15th and 16th slots.
"I think we all have to recognize the fact that we're not counting all the races," he explained. "Some of the ballots may have votes for the 13th and 14th positions. The gap is getting closer, but that's only because we're not counting the 13th and 14th positions."
In the meantime, the recounting of the three remaining mayoral races were completed, Taitano says and the winners certified last night by the GEC's Board. Those villages include the southern municipalities of Inarajan, Talofofo and Santa Rita. "It didn't change. The winners were actually the ones who prevailed in the general election and/or the initial recount," he added.
The recounting of ballots continues on Sunday.
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