Muncie Republicans calling for mayoral race recount this year

MUNCIE – Republicans on Monday filed a petition seeking a recount in the city’s mayoral election, which the Democratic candidate won by 11 votes.\nThe Delaware County Republican Party filed the petition in Delaware Circuit Court, saying that votes cast “were not correctly or accurately counted and/or that fraud, tampering or misconduct occurred.”\nCounty Democratic Party officials have rejected any implication of voter fraud.\nDavid Brooks, an attorney for the Republican Party, said the county GOP had amassed evidence of vote fraud, but did not give other details.\n“Probably that’s about all I’m going to say at this point,” Brooks said.\nThe certified results show Republican candidate Sharon McShurley received 6,122 votes in the Nov. 6 election, which Democrat Jim Mansfield won with 6,133 votes. Republican Mayor Dan Canan did not seek re-election after three terms.\nRepublicans are asking for a recount in every city precinct, which Brooks said was not unusual.\n“If you’re down 11 votes, you really don’t have any idea where that’s going to come from,” he said.\nThe party also filed a motion asking Judge Robert Barnet Jr. for a change of venue, which could move the case to another county. Brooks said a hearing on the change of venue filing could happen next week, and the recount must be finished by Dec. 20.