Buchanan County Republican Party seeking recount for commissioner seat

By Chris Fortune

Local Republican leadership is seeking a recount following a tightly contested race for the Buchanan County Western District Commissioner seat on Tuesday.

Current county results show Democratic incumbent Ron Hook retaining his seat by a slim 20-vote margin. The chairman of the Buchanan County Republican Central Committee, Steven Greiert, visited the county clerk’s office Wednesday morning to seek a recount and learn what the process will look like.

With 100% of the county’s unofficial results reported on Tuesday, Goddard initially had a 104-vote lead. However, County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey confirmed a short time later that updated vote totals showed Hook ahead by just 20 votes.

“She gave us a very good explanation,” Greiert said. “She said that 100% of the precincts had reported, but the absentee ballots had not been counted completely.”

During the meeting with Baack-Garvey, Greiert learned that the county is still waiting to count absentee ballots from military members as of Wednesday morning.

“We’re going to wait, and there probably will be a recount, and she told us the process that they’re going to follow,” he said.

Greiert said Baack-Garvey is checking with the secretary of state to make sure proper procedures are followed to move forward with a potential recount.

Official results may not be available until Monday, so he believes a recount will begin next week.

“She’s going through what she has to do, so we’re satisfied with that, and so we’re going to sit tight, say a few prayers, and see what happens,” Greiert said.

News-Press NOW reached out to the Buchanan County Clerk’s Office on Wednesday, but Baack-Garvey could not be immediately reached for comment while she works on post-election duties.