HOT SPRINGS — Thomas “Wild Bill” Hickox has requested a recount of the unofficial results of Tuesday’s Republican preferential primary in the Garland County sheriff’s race.
Garland County Election Commission Chairman Ginna Watson said the recount will start at 8 a.m. Tuesday at commission headquarters. She said Ronald O. Dunn, Hickox’s opponent in the Republican primary sheriff’s race, has been notified about the recount.
According to unofficial primary returns, Dunn defeated Hickox by six votes, receiving 3,498 votes to Hickox’s 3,492 votes. The winner of the race will face Garland County Sheriff Larry Sanders, a Democrat, in the Nov.6 general election.
Hickox said he has sought the recount because of the “low number difference” in the unofficial election tally.
Dunn said he would seek a recount, too, if he were Hickox, citing the closeness of the race.
Initially the unofficial returns Tuesday night had Hickox beating Dunn by eight votes, receiving 3,449 votes to Dunn’s 3,441. But a poll worker had forgotten to take a computer flash card that contained the results of one voting machine in Fountain Lake to the Garland County Election Commission for counting. Those votes were finally counted Wednesday evening and showed Dunn defeating Hickox by the six votes.
Watson said the ballot recount will take “two days at the very least” to complete. The election commission plans to certify the results of Tuesday’s preferential primary and nonpartisan judicial general election on June 1.
Arkansas, Pages 14 on 05/27/2012