Bradenton Beach voters are evenly divided on who should take the city’s top job after a ballot recount Nov. 3.
Pending another recount at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 4, voters are evenly split on Bill Shearon or incumbent Jack Clarke for mayor. Shearon garnered 195 votes to Clarke’s 195, according to the unofficial returns.
It was 195-194 for Shearon on the first count. But two provisional votes, one for Clarke and one denied vote, was announced after the canvassing board examination.
The Wednesday recount — first by machine, followed by a manual recount by the canvassing board — could also result in a tie. In that event, Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Michael Bennett told Shearon late Tuesday night, the candidates will draw cards.
Lacking any resolution for a tie vote in the city charter, state statutes provide a six-card draw, with the candidates names on three cards.
Shearon was asked to be present for the recount.
“It just goes to show that one vote can make a difference,” Shearon said after the votes were counted Tuesday.
Turnout was 51.45 percent, 390 of the city’s 758 registered voters. Some 147 voters in the mayoral race, 37.6 percent, cast votes at the polls. There were 242 votes submitted by mail.
Also on the ballot, voters elected Ralph Cole as Ward 3 commissioner. He defeated incumbent Janie Robertson by 51 votes, 219-168. Jacob Spooner won the Ward 1 seat without opposition.
The ballot questions on charter amendments were all approved.
The mayoral race was a rematch for Clarke and Shearon.
Clarke bested Shearon by 13 votes May 19, after voters recalled Shearon by eight votes. Shearon, who was first elected mayor in November 2013, had completed his paperwork to run again back in February, even before the recall election.
Robertson served three terms, before limits forced her to sit out a term, 2011-13. In 2013 she defeated Ric Gatehouse, who had been appointed to fill her vacant Ward 3 seat.
Shearon and Robertson, political allies, monitored election results Nov. 3 from Shearon’s home.
“The ward now has a fresh perspective,” Robertson said.
“Obviously 51 voters preferred to back the commercial interests over that of the residents. I’ve always supported the residents first.”
Efforts to reach Clarke and Cole were unsuccessful.
The three-member canvassing board, Bennett, Bradenton Beach city attorney Ricinda Perry and city clerk Terri Sanclemente, will oversee the recount at Bennett’s office, 600 301 Blvd W., Suite 108, Bradenton.
The polling took place at the Volunteer Fire Hall, 201 Second St. N., Bradenton Beach.
