Baron Hill only gained three votes
Recount completed in one day for Ripley
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Ripley County wasn't the place where Baron Hill would pick up significant votes after a recount only brought him a gain of three. According to information from Kate Shepherd, Communications Director for Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, Democrat Baron Hill gained nine votes in Ripley County, while Mike Sodrel gained six in the county. That's a net gain of three for Hill in Ripley County.

Shepherd noted that unofficially, Hill has gained 18 votes total after three counties have been recounted. "Keep in mind, these results have not been certified by the State Board of Accounts," she noted.

In a room filled with employees of the State Board of Accounts, watchers from both the Republican and Democrat parties from Ripley County, along with Ripley County Clerk Ginger Bradford, the Indiana State Police were in charge of who came and went throughout the day and each person signed in and out.

The recount for Ripley County took place at the Versailles State Park Recreation Hall, making for a comfortable setting for those doing the counting. "This is a much better facility than the last one where we were so cramped," noted Chris Sautter, attorney for Baron Hill.

Orange bags filled with ballots had been sealed since election and more specifically kept under lock and key since November 12, when the state police were ordered to confiscate all the election ballots, machines and etc.

James Bopp, attorney for the Mike Sodrel campaign, noted that Monroe County, which has the most voters only gave Baron Hill a gain of six and in Dubois County he picked up three. That brings the total in the first three counties to only 12 extra votes for Hill. The amount he would need is around 1400 to reverse the election results that saw Hill unseated by challenger Republican Mike Sodrel.

"He (Sodrel) will be sworn in on January 3," noted Bopp, who said he had already been assigned an office in Washington DC and is hiring staff. He went on to say the margin was "way to big for a recount," adding there would have to be several mistakes.

Bopp, who is general counsel for the State Republican Party said he has seen these types of recounts before and in this one the gains have been "purely random with no specific areas." He is also the attorney representing Governor-Elect Mitch Daniels through the transition of him taking office as governor.

Chris Sautter, attorney for Baron Hill, noted that the call for the recount was within the scope of laws passed by legislature to assure the voting public that the winner is the right one, not just any winner.

Saying the recount fell within the one-half of one percent margin needed to have the process done, Sautter said while Baron Hill doesn't want to needlessly pursue the recount, he does want the public to be satisfied that the final count is the accurate one.

When asked if the recount could be called off due to the low number of gains for Hill, Sautter said he felt they would continue until all the counties are done. He noted that you never know when a glitch will provide a large number of votes one way or the other.

Bopp, attorney for Sodrel, said he felt the recount was an "undue burden on taxpayers," and did not anticipate the outcome changing who will be the 9th District Congressman.

Heather Willis, recount director for the State Board of Accounts, noted that the projected cost for the entire recount, which includes 20 counties, could amount to nearly one-half a million dollars. Willis also noted that the entire recount should be wrapped up by the end of the year.

Ripley County Clerk Ginger Bradford began her day on Monday, December 6, at 6:00 a.m. at the clerk's office in the courthouse and then spent the day with the counters. She noted that she also spent Sunday helping get the area set up at the park recreation hall. She was available to help with any questions throughout the process and was assisted by Marilyn Hunt, Election Deputy.

Bradford noted that "the taxpayers are paying for all of this." She said it's the first recount she's had to experience and hopes she doesn't have to go through another one.

On Wednesday, December 8, Baron Hill called for an end to the recount in the ninth district. "It is now clear that major irregularities did not occur and votes cast have been counted properly. I thank the people of the Ninth District for their patience and extend my best wishes to the incoming Congressman," he concluded.