Alaska counts final ballots in US House primary
Anne SuttonElections officials in Alaska said Wednesday that they soon would have the final results for a close Republican primary battle over the state's only seat in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Don Young, a 35-year veteran of the U.S. House under federal investigation, held a 239-vote lead over Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell with fewer than 300 ballots left to count. Most of the outstanding ballots were absentee votes mailed from overseas, typically from members of the military and their families.
Elections Director Gail Fenumiai said she hoped to have final results from the Aug. 26 election posted on the division's Web site by the end of the day Wednesday.
Each candidate has said he will seek a recount if he finishes on the losing end of a close race.
The division hopes to certify the results Thursday, after which a candidate or group of 10 registered voters may request a recount — to be paid for by the state if the difference is less than half of 1 percent. The race between Young and Parnell is likely to end up being that close.
They have five days to request the recount, which must be held within three days. Fenumiai estimates the recount then would take three days to complete.
Parnell has trailed Young since primary night despite support from popular Gov. Sarah Palin, now the GOP vice presidential candidate, and the legal cloud over Young. The winner will face Democratic former state Rep. Ethan Berkowitz in the general election.
Young is under investigation for ties to oil field services company VECO Corp., and has spent more than $1 million from his campaign war chest on legal fees.
The federal corruption investigation of Alaska politics has seen three state lawmakers sent to federal prison and two more awaiting trial. U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, who breezed through his primary race, is also awaiting trial, which is set to begin Monday in Washington, D.C..
Stevens, the Senate's longest-serving Republican, has pleaded not guilty to charges he lied on Senate disclosure forms to hide hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and home renovations he received from VECO.
Stevens faces Democrat Mark Begich, the popular mayor of Anchorage, on Nov. 4.