Keno recount tentatively set for November 22 in City Council room; Ward 5 recount set for Saturday

ROCHESTER - A Keno recount will likely take place later this month as long as organizers of the recall effort can get 25 signatures to present to the City Clerk.

City Councilors had defeated a call for a recount at their last meeting, but a memo from the City Clerk's office today said that the City Clerk's office along with the City Attorney had made the decision to "defer to state law in regards to the recount process."

That statute provides for a recount if a petition calling for it along with an administrative fee of $25 is tendered to the City Clerk's office within 15 days.

"At this time, the City Clerk's office is in receipt of 10 written requests for Keno recounts and is anticipating the receipt of a petition with signatures adequate to reach the 25 voters required," the memo stated.

The $25 recount fee has already been pledged by State Rep. Matthew Scruton, an avowed opponent of Keno gambling.

Keno was authorized by Rochester voters at Tuesday's election by a single vote, citywide, 1,036-1,035.

A special City Council meeting is now expected to be scheduled to determine the recount process, which is tentatively set for Nov. 22 in City Council chambers.

Meanwhile, the recount on the Ward Five, City Council Seat B race between incumbent Robert W. Gates and challenger Sam A. Oliver III will be on Saturday. In that race Gates won by just five votes, 193-188, prompting Oliver to ask that the ballots be counted again.