By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-799178.mp3
Dallas, TX – Dallas County Commissioners have hired outside lawyers in the House District 105 recount lawsuit. KERA's BJ Austin reports Democrats are suing in federal court over the way the recount is being conducted.
They contend Democratic challenger Bob Romano lost votes when straight ticket voters also punched his name for emphasis, and the electronic voting machine then de-selected the vote in that race. Democrats say those votes should be counted. Republicans and the Secretary of State say no. County Commissioner John Wiley Price says they have hired the law firm of Munck and Carter, election specialists. He says "cost" is not a consideration.
Price: That doesn't matter. It's about the vote. We have got to get it cleared up once and for all.
Price says the Legislative needs to fix the problem of "de-selected" votes to keep county election officials out of court.
Price: I hope it's in somebody's Legislative package to get this thing rectified once and for all.
Republican incumbent Linda Harper Brown leads Democrat Romano by 20 votes. The outcome will determine if Republicans have a one-vote advantage in the State House. The recount began Monday. Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet expects it to last all week.