Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Potomac businessman David Blair told WMAL he will wait until after the results of the June 26 Democratic primary for Montgomery County executive are certified Monday before he makes a formal decision on whether to ask for a recount. The latest tabulation has county councilman Marc Elrich beating Blair by 80 votes.
“It’s been a strange process the last couple weeks, and hopefully it won’t take too much longer and whether it’s myself or whether it’s Mr. Elrich, we can start thinking about the November election,” Blair said.
If he doesn’t win, Blair vowed to support Mr. Elrich because he’s a fellow Democrat.
After the Montgomery County Board of Elections certifies the results Monday afternoon, spokesperson Marjorie Roher said Blair has three days to ask for a recount. If he does, he will have to specify how it will work. Roher said Blair would have to choose whether he wants the recount to be done by hand or machine and whether he wants a county-wide recount or just certain precincts.
Blair said his campaign is working with people who went through this before to figure out the best course of action.
“We’re looking at all of it as well as the cost associated with it, which will impact our final decision,” said Blair. If he asks for a recount, he would have to pay for it.
While he hasn’t been through a recount himself, former county executive Doug Duncan – who held the post from 1994 through 2006 – said Blair should ask for a recount.
“Eighty votes is a big hurdle, but he certainly should get a recount,” Duncan said.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face off in November’s election against Republican Robin Ficker. County council member Nancy Floreen is going through the process to become an independent candidate. To get her name on the ballot, she will need to submit nominating papers signed by 1 percent of the county’s registered voters by Aug. 6.
Copyright 2018 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: David Blair campaign)
