ELECTION IN

Charlestown mayor Bob Hall declares intent to recount election he lost to Treva Hodges

Sarah Ladd
Courier Journal
Charlestown mayor Bob Hall responds to statements and questions during a Charlestown City Council meeting Monday evening. Dec. 4, 2017

Citing "some anomalies" Friday, the mayor of Charlestown, Indiana, announced on Facebook his intent to ask for a recount in the election he lost to Treva Hodges by 1 percentage point. 

"Concerning a recount," Hall wrote Friday, "There are some anomalies in the absentees, provisional ballots and undervotes totals that are being reviewed by our team. There will be a formal announcement Tuesday morning concerning a recount. Thanks again for your thoughts, prayers and support."

This post from Hall, a Republican, came two days after Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin asked for a formal recanvass in the gubernatorial election he lost to Gov.-elect Andy Beshear. 

Following Hall's post, Mayor-elect Hodges wrote on her campaign Facebook, "Mayor Hall has a right to request a recount. I do not anticipate an overturn of the voters’ decision, and therefore will not put Charlestown behind as I assemble my transition team and start the much needed work of rebuilding."

The campaign between the two was aggressive, with the Ivy Tech adjunct professor  condemning the long-time mayor's attempts to remake Pleasant Ridge as a more upscale neighborhood, a controversy that only grew when Hall said he did nothing wrong in trying to help remove a "low-rent" neighborhood that can attract people "who are not contributing to society." 

The Pleasant Ridge Neighborhood Association declined to comment on the recount announcement. 

During her campaign, Hodges also promised the make the city more financially transparent and advocated for restoring private property rights and seeking residents' opinions at town hall meetings. 

Background:New Albany, Jeffersonville mayors reelected; Charlestown's Bob Hall ousted

She confirmed her Facebook post sentiments to The Courier Journal Tuesday and said, "I think at the end of the day, I’ll still be the winner."

“He has the right to request a recount and if he feels he needs to do that, by all means we’re prepared to participate in that process as needed," said Hodges. "It’s not gonna stop me moving forward. I still plan to move forward with my transition plan. I have full faith in the clerk's office and with our election polling places. I believe that everything ran smoothly this election, no issues. And so, I do not anticipate a change n the outcome.”

Hall hasn't officially filed for a recount yet, and Hodges said nothing can be done until he does. 

Hall did not return a phone call from The Courier Journal, but he told the News and Tribune his attorney will file the formal paperwork this week

Clark County Clerk Susan Popp told The Courier Journal Hall has until noon on Nov. 19 to file for the recount, which takes the form of a lawsuit that appoints a recount commission. As of Nov. 18, Hall hadn't filed. 

The party can file on a candidate's behalf, though, said Popp, and the party has until Nov. 22 at noon. Whoever files for the recount is responsible for paying for it, she said, and the whole process should take a matter of days. 

Popp said that officials do a recanvass after every election to ensure there were no "anomalies." She said "all those numbers checked out" on this last election and "I think everyone should feel comfortable with the process." 

Should a recount not change the results of the election, Popp said Hall could appeal the decision and get another recount, but the whole process "should be pretty straightforward." 

Reach breaking news reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.