Arkansas House Recount Update: No Change in Jackson County
By: Max Brantley, Arkansas Blog (Arkansas Times), KARK 4 News Content Partner
Updated: November 13, 2012
Another county recount has been completed in the four-county canvass of votes in the House District 52 race, which put Republican John Hutchison of Harrisburg 44 votes ahead of Democrat L.J. Bryant of Grubbs. If it's upheld, Republicans have a 51-vote majority in the House.
Craighead County was completed last week without change. No Jackson County has completed a recount, again with no change in the vote tally, said Democratic Party spokeswoman Candace Martin. That leaves Poinsett, which is being recounted today, and Independence, which is to be recounted Thursday.
The House is also set to meet Thursday so that a vote can be held to re-elect or reject Democrat Darrin Williams as House speaker designate for 2013. If the Republican majority votes en bloc as expected, Williams' ascension to be the first African-American House speaker will be denied. Then a new election will be held. Republicans have said they intend to elect Rep. Terry Rice. The vote is by secret ballot. There's always a chance of a surprise in such a circumstance, but nobody I know believes that's a serious possibility. Then the question will be whether Rice follows recent custom when Democrats were in control by appointing some Democrats to committee chairmanships.
Craighead County was completed last week without change. No Jackson County has completed a recount, again with no change in the vote tally, said Democratic Party spokeswoman Candace Martin. That leaves Poinsett, which is being recounted today, and Independence, which is to be recounted Thursday.
The House is also set to meet Thursday so that a vote can be held to re-elect or reject Democrat Darrin Williams as House speaker designate for 2013. If the Republican majority votes en bloc as expected, Williams' ascension to be the first African-American House speaker will be denied. Then a new election will be held. Republicans have said they intend to elect Rep. Terry Rice. The vote is by secret ballot. There's always a chance of a surprise in such a circumstance, but nobody I know believes that's a serious possibility. Then the question will be whether Rice follows recent custom when Democrats were in control by appointing some Democrats to committee chairmanships.
