Incumbent loses after recount in Sanborn Co.

WOONSOCKET — An independent candidate will represent Letcherarea residents on the Sanborn County Commission.

A recount conducted Monday in the District 5 commissioner’s race resulted in Gary Blindauer receiving one more vote, giving him an 82-to-77 vote win over Democratic incumbent Donald Moe, of Letcher, said County Auditor Diane Larson.

The recount took 2.5 hours, with Madison lawyer Wilson Kleibacker, Republican April Larson, of Woonsocket — the auditor’s cousin-in-law — and Democrat Olen Ettswold, of Letcher, serving on the recount board, Diane Larson said.

Moe requested a recount Nov. 9 in the close race, which was separated by four votes with Blindauer receiving 81. Moe was elected to the commission in 1986.

The recount was the first in the auditor’s eight years on the job, she said. The recount board used electronic equipment to tally ballots and encountered no problems.

Blindauer will be sworn in at the Jan. 4 meeting.

Tags: election 2010, news, woonsocket