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Newcomers win seats

While the first-timers scored clear victories, the close margin between two other candidates leads to a manual recount.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published March 14, 2006

SEMINOLE - In an upset race that saw two first-time candidates outpolling both incumbents, and could lead to a recount, only one veteran will retain his City Council seat.

Trina Watkins ran away with the race, taking home 1,030 votes for 29.01 percent of the total 3,550 votes cast. In second place was Tom Barnhorn with 867 or 24.42 percent of the vote.

Incumbent John Counts appeared to barely win a second term, edging out longtime incumbent Bob Matthews by eight votes. Counts' 666 votes accounted for 18.76 percent of the total. Matthews got 658 votes for 18.54 percent of the vote.

Because of the close vote, a manual recount was in the works. And with 14 provisional ballots on the table, the outcome for third place could still change, Counts said Tuesday. The provisional ballots will be counted Saturday.

Trailing behind were Edwin Parker Jr. with 178 or 5.01 percent and Simon Montag with 151 or 4.25 percent of the vote.

Until last year, the winners would have served two-year terms. But voters approved a charter change to three-year terms that will be staggered in beginning this year.

Watkins and Barnhorn, as the highest vote-getters, won three-year terms. Counts, or Matthews, won another two-year term.

"Right now, (it's) pandemonium, but exciting," said Watkins. "I am totally sunburned from standing out at the polls today. I forgot about the sunblock part. It's exciting. I am just so thankful for every single voter that came out."

Watkins said she was looking forward to serving every voter in Seminole.

"Wow," Barnhorn said. "I want to thank the residents of Seminole who placed their trust in me. I'll do my best to serve them."

Matthews' apparent defeat was seen as a victory by Floridians Against Injustice to Residents of Mobile/Manufactured Homes. FAIR, which was organized last year as a way to fight for the rights of mobile home owners who are facing eviction as parks are redeveloped, had targeted the incumbents, especially Matthews.

FAIR representatives had said the incumbents were not sufficiently sympathetic to the plight of mobile home owners who could lose their homes as parks are redeveloped. Matthews drew most of their ire because he maintained that the homeowners should take their case to Tallahassee. Local government, Matthews had said, could do nothing.

That stance outraged FAIR representatives, and they passed out fliers urging mobile home owners to cast only two votes: for Barnhorn and Watkins.

Matthews said he knew he was being targeted for his comments but he maintained Tuesday night that he was correct.

"The truth is, Tallahassee's got to write the law for mobile home protection," Matthews said.

[Last modified March 14, 2006, 23:44:01]