By Mary Thurwachter
Results of a Friday, March 11 morning recount confirmed that newcomer John Raymer received the second largest share of votes in Lantana’s Group 1 Town Council race on March 8 and will face incumbent Lynn Moorhouse in one of two runoffs on March 22.
The runoffs in the Group 1 and 2 races became necessary when none of the candidates was able to capture more than the 50% of the vote needed to win in either race.
The recount, held at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Election’s warehouse, was automatically triggered in the Group 1 race when only five votes, less than a half-percentage point, separated Raymer and a third candidate, Joe Farrell, who has run for a council seat before. Moorhouse received 43.95% (498) of the votes, while Raymer got 28.24% (320) and Farrell came in third with 27.80% (315).
While The Coastal Star was unable to reach Moorhouse for comment, Raymer said he was feeling pretty good. “I know I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. I’m gonna get out there and hit it harder and try to connect with more people,” he said.
The Group 2 runoff is between newcomers Media Beverly and Kem Mason, the top two vote-getters in that contest. Mason collected 43.09% (499) of the votes, followed by Beverly with 39.46% (457). The third candidate, former council member Ed Shropshire. received 17.44% (202).
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 22 using the same precincts as during the March 8 general municipal election.
Runoff winners will be sworn in during the March 28 Town Council meeting.
Comments
These numbers seem funny to me. It's difficult to imagine a legit election producing this kind of result. Who's with me on this?