Hand Count Shows McGrew and Askew Even
Whitefish Council a Tie

Myers Reece    Flathead Beacon    19 Nov. 2007

The Whitefish City Council election is the gift that keeps on giving. After two ballot recounts and a 500-vote discrepancy caused by overstuffed voting machines, a hand count Monday morning showed Martin McGrew and Turner Askew each have 696 votes.

By state law, the city council will have to appoint either McGrew or Askew at an upcoming meeting. The current council may be tasked with the appointment, or it might be pushed back until the new council is in place in January. City Clerk Necile Lorang said the appointment date is being discussed.

After the original ballot count on Nov. 5, Askew took the third council seat by four votes. The other two seats went to John Muhlfeld and Ryan Friel, who both won by comfortable margins. The following day, however, two ballot recounts picked up 500 more votes and gave the advantage to McGrew, 694-692. Askew requested another recount, which resulted in Monday’s hand count.