Vermont Auditor of Accounts election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Vermont Auditor of Accounts election was held on November 7, 2006 and resulted in one of the closest state-wide election victories in Vermont history. It also resulted in the first state-wide election recount
since 1980, and the first time in the state's history, that such a recount resulted in the overturning of the election night results.
Thomas M. "Tom" Salmon
losing to Republican
incumbent
Randolph D. "Randy" Brock
by over 800 votes. But when the certified results were announced a few days later, Brock was leading by only 137 votes (with over 250,000 votes cast). Given the closeness of the election, Salmon, in accordance with Title 17, section 2602(b) of the state statutes, then petitioned the Washington County
Superior Court
for a recount.
As recounted results began coming in from the state's 14 Counties, Brock's lead soon disappeared, and Salmon took the lead.
On December 21, 2006 Superior Court Judge Mary Miles Teachout declared Salmon the winner by a margin of 102 votes over Brock.http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061221/NEWS/61221012
This was the first state-wide recount in Vermont in 26 years. According to the state archivist, it is also the first time in the state's history that a certified election was overturned on the basis of a recount.http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061219/NEWS/612190371/1004/NEWS03 Also, according to Brock, this may have been the closest state-wide election in the state's history.http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061221/NEWS/61221012
Salmon took office on January 4, 2007.
and vote by phone ballots, and due to the court's resolution of a small number of disputed ballots, that were included in the final results):
Election recount
An election recount is essentially a repeat tabulation of votes that is used to determine the correctness of an initial count. Recounts will often take place in the event that the initial vote tally during an election is extremely close....
since 1980, and the first time in the state's history, that such a recount resulted in the overturning of the election night results.
Candidates
- Martha Abbott, ProgressiveVermont Progressive PartyThe Vermont Progressive Party is an American political party. It was founded in 1999 and is active only in the U.S. state of Vermont. In terms of the dominant two parties in the United States, it enjoys support from "traditional liberal" Democrats and working class Republicans. The party is...
- Randolph D. "Randy" BrockRandy BrockRandolph D. "Randy" Brock is a Vermont Republican politician. He served as Vermont Auditor of Accounts from 2005 to 2007.-Biography:...
, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, IncumbentIncumbentThe incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... - Jerry Levy, Libery UnionLiberty Union PartyThe Liberty Union Party of Vermont, founded in 1970 by former Congressman William H. Meyer, Peter Diamondstone and others, originated in the anti-war and People's Party movements of the late 1960s and defines itself as a nonviolent socialist party.-History:...
- Thomas M. "Tom" SalmonThomas M. Salmon- Early life :Salmon was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont. He graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School and attended Worcester Academy as a postgraduate year and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Boston College...
, DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Election and recount
Unofficial election night results had DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Thomas M. "Tom" Salmon
Thomas M. Salmon
- Early life :Salmon was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont. He graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School and attended Worcester Academy as a postgraduate year and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Boston College...
losing to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Randolph D. "Randy" Brock
Randy Brock
Randolph D. "Randy" Brock is a Vermont Republican politician. He served as Vermont Auditor of Accounts from 2005 to 2007.-Biography:...
by over 800 votes. But when the certified results were announced a few days later, Brock was leading by only 137 votes (with over 250,000 votes cast). Given the closeness of the election, Salmon, in accordance with Title 17, section 2602(b) of the state statutes, then petitioned the Washington County
Washington County, Vermont
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
for a recount.
As recounted results began coming in from the state's 14 Counties, Brock's lead soon disappeared, and Salmon took the lead.
On December 21, 2006 Superior Court Judge Mary Miles Teachout declared Salmon the winner by a margin of 102 votes over Brock.http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061221/NEWS/61221012
This was the first state-wide recount in Vermont in 26 years. According to the state archivist, it is also the first time in the state's history that a certified election was overturned on the basis of a recount.http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061219/NEWS/612190371/1004/NEWS03 Also, according to Brock, this may have been the closest state-wide election in the state's history.http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061221/NEWS/61221012
Salmon took office on January 4, 2007.
Results
The unofficial recount results as of December 19, 2006, as reported by the Vermont Secretary of State's officehttp://vermont-elections.org/elections1/2006AuditorRecount12.19.06.html (these results do not include small changes due to the counting of 62 provisionalProvisional ballot
A provisional ballot is used to record a vote when there are questions in regards to a given voter's eligibility. A provisional ballot would be cast when:*The voter refuses to show a photo ID...
and vote by phone ballots, and due to the court's resolution of a small number of disputed ballots, that were included in the final results):
| Candidate | Party | Original Count | Recount | Change in Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martha Abbott | Progressive Vermont Progressive Party The Vermont Progressive Party is an American political party. It was founded in 1999 and is active only in the U.S. state of Vermont. In terms of the dominant two parties in the United States, it enjoys support from "traditional liberal" Democrats and working class Republicans. The party is... |
23,545 | 23,483 | -62 |
| Randy Brock Randy Brock Randolph D. "Randy" Brock is a Vermont Republican politician. He served as Vermont Auditor of Accounts from 2005 to 2007.-Biography:... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
111,486 | 111,637 | +151 |
| Jerry Levy | Liberty Union Liberty Union Party The Liberty Union Party of Vermont, founded in 1970 by former Congressman William H. Meyer, Peter Diamondstone and others, originated in the anti-war and People's Party movements of the late 1960s and defines itself as a nonviolent socialist party.-History:... |
4,229 | 3,913 | -316 |
| Thomas M. Salmon Thomas M. Salmon - Early life :Salmon was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont. He graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School and attended Worcester Academy as a postgraduate year and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Boston College... (Winner) |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
111,349 | 111,741 | +392 |