BENSON -- Just three days after Benson City Councilman Robert Claussen was reported to have lost his council seat in Tuesday's election, the city of Benson reported Friday that a counting error had been discovered.
In correction, the city declared Claussen the victor Friday with 239 votes to competing candidate Benjamin Hess' 229 votes.
According to a press release from City Clerk Glen Pederson, a review of the totals counted Tuesday pointed to Hess as the winner. Hess was one of three people seeking two open council seats for four-year terms.
But after reviewing the totals Wednesday, it was discovered that the total votes counted for the seat exceeded the total number of votes cast.
Prior to the correction, the city office reported Hess to have 265 votes to Claussen's 239 votes, making Hess the declared winner of one of the seats.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to the news release on Friday, the election judges were called back to recount and certify the vote numbers. After review, the results are the following: incumbent Sue Fitz won a seat with 377 votes, incumbent Claussen won the other seat with 239 votes, and Hess received 229.
Claussen will begin his third four-year term in January.
As a result, only one face will be new to the Benson council in 2008. Newly elected Anne Johnson will serve out the remaining two years of a vacant seat after defeating opponent Mike Fugleberg, 225-207.
Johnson will occupy the seat vacated by Benson Public Schools Superintendent Lee Westrum in May 2007. Westrum vacated the seat upon his hiring as superintendent, citing a conflict of interest between the two governmental bodies.
Johnson's seat will be up for re-election in 2009.
