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Temple Terrace Recount Doesn't Change Council Result

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By KENNETH KNIGHT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - David Penoyer picked up 31 votes during an unofficial recount today, but not enough to win a seat on the Temple Terrace City Council.

Penoyer fell short by 53 votes to overtake Mary Jane Neale, who was elected to the board in November. The 36-year-old environmental engineer said he doesn't plan to pursue any further action to challenge the outcome of the race.

"We are glad to get the votes counted," Penoyer said. "It's a good day."

Neale, who attended the unofficial vote recount at the Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center on Falkenburg Road, said she was relieved and had no hard feelings.

"It was important to get all the votes counted," Neale said, adding that she and Penoyer have a good relationship.

At 10:30 a.m. today, in the presence of reporters and television cameras, newly seated Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Phyllis Busansky honored a public records request to release 440 ballots from precincts 626 and 651 that went uncounted in the Nov. 4 election.

Busansky, who did not attend today's event, learned the uncounted ballots from the Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church precincts were in storage at the election office's Falkenburg Road warehouse after she took office this month. The election had already been certified.

Only the ballots from precinct 651 listed the names of the four candidates who could have been impacted by the close council election. The other candidates were incumbent Ron Govin, who was re-elected, and Ted Grevencamp.

This morning, Penoyer and his attorney, Sharon Samek of the Florida Democratic Lawyers Council, watched as election office workers unsealed and separated the ballots. They were scanned and then saved onto compact discs. Copies of the discs were made available to the candidates and reporters.
Penoyer and Samek hand-counted the ballots from precinct 651 while Neale looked on.

The ballots from precinct 626 weren't counted because its boundaries don't include Temple Terrace, said Sigrid Tidmore, the spokeswoman for the elections office.

The first-time council candidate began the day optimistic that a recount might earn him a seat on the five-member board. However, his hopes dimmed as he combed through eight batches of votes, announcing each one for Samek to write down.

Penoyer said he was pleased to have gone through the process because the uncounted ballots represented about 15 percent of Temple Terrace voters.

"There was so many people in that precinct whose votes weren't counted," Penoyer said.

He praised Busansky for her professionalism and cooperation. Her decision to release the votes prevents Penoyer from having to file a lawsuit.

"It's better than a lawsuit," Penoyer said. "It's cheaper and quicker."

Penoyer plans to stay active in Temple Terrace politics. He said he will seek a council seat again in 2010.

"I'm excited," Penoyer said. "There are great things ahead of us. Mary Jane and the other council members have a lot of challenges."

Busansky has already begun a major review and overhaul of election office procedures.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 865-4842.

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