Waterloo mayoral candidate to seek recount

Associated Press - December 11, 2009 1:54 PM ET

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) - A candidate hoping to become mayor of Waterloo has announced he will seek a re-count of votes from the Dec. 1 runoff election.

City Councilman Steve Schmitt lost to former council member Buck Clark by 50 votes in the runoff. An official canvass of votes completed by the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday showed Clark defeated Schmitt 4,304 to 4,254.

In a statement released Friday, Schmitt said he has been contacted by some of those who turned out for the runoff. He says they urged him to make sure their votes were counted.

Schmitt says he believes the best way to confirm all the votes cast have been accounted four is a complete recount. He contends the election remains too close to call and a re-count is in order.

Information from: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, http://www.wcfcourier.com