Discovery Recounts Begin In Lake County Sheriff, State Rep Races

WAUKEGAN, IL — Discovery recounts begin Wednesday in a pair of narrowly decided Lake County races in which Republican incumbents were unseated by Democrats. Any candidate whose final vote total is within 5 percent of the winner may select a sample consisting of up to a quarter of all precincts in the district, which can then be inspected and recounted, according to the Lake County Clerk's Office. The results of the recount can used as evidence to present to a Lake County Circuit Court in a request for a full recount if enough errors are discovered.

Former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, 55, filed a request for a discovery recount in the sheriff's race after he was denied a fourth term in office by 137 votes out of 245,633 votes cast. The Libertyville Republican, the county's longest-serving sheriff, was originally elected in 2006 as a Democrat before switching parties two years later.

Sheriff John Idleburg, 64, was sworn in on Dec. 1 after provisional and mail ballots were tabulated and certified Nov. 20. The Zion Democrat and former federal agent said last week he has faith in the election process and would remain focused on the operations of the sheriff's office.

"There is a lot of positive energy here at the office, and I am already enjoying working with our great group of employees," he said.

Curran told the Daily Herald he was "just doing my due diligence" in requesting the recount. On the night of the election, the incumbent held a 754-vote lead. But Idleburg won more than 57 percent of the nearly 6,000 provisional and late-arriving mail ballots counted and ended up with 122,885 votes to 122,748 for Curran. Idleburg said his focus was no longer on the election and he looked forward to "building bridges with the community," according to the Lake County News-Sun.

Following the final vote tally, Curran said Lake County Republican Chair Mark Shaw advised him to request the discovery recount, according to the News-Sun. The ex-sheriff filed for the recount on Dec. 3, just before the deadline, according to the Daily Herald.

Shaw, who did not immediately respond for a request for comment, has also triggered a discovery recount has also been triggered in the 51st District Illinois House race, the News-Sun reported.

Incumbent Republican state Rep. Helene Miller-Walsh was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Nick Sauer, who resigned in scandal in August following allegations he impersonated an ex-partner online while sending intimate photos of her to various men.

Miller-Walsh and Democrat Mary Edly Allen were separated by just a single vote on Election Day, but when provisional and mail ballots were counted Edly-Allen was declared the winner by 373 votes. The district includes all or parts of Barrington, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Long Grove and Mundelein.

In addition to the sheriff's race, Democratic Party candidates defeated incumbent Republicans for the countywide jobs of treasurer and clerk. Democrats also gained control of the Lake County Board for the first time since its founding in 1839, winning a 12-9 majority after Republican candidates captured only five of the 14 seats up for election on Nov. 6.

Earlier: Final Vote Count Gives Democrats Lake County Board For First Time

Shortly after the election, the clerk's office told the Lake County News-Sun the office had conducted five discovery recounts after the April 2017 consolidated election. Those recounts did not change votes in any of those races.

Lake County Clerk Robin O'Connor said expected the discovery recount to be complete next week on the roughly 80 precincts where it has been requested, which include 20 in Libertyville Township, 15 in Shields Township, 13 in Waukegan Township, 10 in Wauconda Township, and seven in West Deerfield Township. The law allows for the examination of ballots, voting machines, ballot cards, voter affidavits and applications. The newly elected Democrat said the discovery recount processes "is an excellent example of how democracy works."

Update: 9 Months After Election, Ex-Sheriff Drops Recount, Accepts Result