With county election officials sidelined by being placed on administrative leave, a recount of ballots in the Nov. 21 municipal elections in Logan and Hyrum is now underway with assistance from state officials.
CACHE COUNTY – As of 9 a.m. on Dec. 13, a recount of ballots cast in the Nov. 21 municipal election was underway here in Cache County, with representatives of Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s office assisting.
Those state officials are involved because the county’s top election officials have been placed on administrative leave by County Attorney Dane Murray.
For specific reasons that remain undisclosed, County Clerk/Auditor David Benson and Election Supervisor Dustin Hansen were placed on administrative leave as of Dec.12.
While county official are staying tight-lipped about the situation, the lieutenant governor’s office confirmed that an “election-related investigation” was underway in Cache County, according to Ryan Cowley, the state director of elections.
Cowley could only add that the election investigation underway in Cache County was unrelated to the recounts now being tabulated in Logan and Hyrum.
Logan City Recorder Teresa Harris could only say Dec. 12 that she was aware of those unusual developments in Cache County and that the recount will continue as scheduled.
The recount is taking place at the request of candidate Katie Lee-Koven, who was narrowly edged out by incumbent Jeanne Simmonds for the third at-large seat on the Logan Municipal Council.
But Simmonds’ margin of victory was only 31 votes over Lee-Koven, making it possible for the challenger to request a recount under state law.
Simmonds’ also led candidate Joe Needham by only 19 votes. But Harris emphasized that Needham did not request a recount.
During an official canvass report on Dec. 5, Harris confirmed that the other two seats up for grabs on the council in the Nov. 21 election were won by incumbent Mark A. Anderson and candidate Mike Johnson.
The recount is expected to be completed in a single day and a official canvass report meeting has be scheduled by Harris at 4 p.m. on Dec. 14.
That canvass meeting will take place in the City Council Conference Room at 290 North, 100 West in Logan.