The State Journal-Register

Thursday, March 15, 2007

SECTION: LOCAL; Page 11

Final tally: Lesko wins primary

By BERNARD SCHOENBURG
POLITICAL WRITER

A close primary race for Springfield Ward 4 alderman now has a different result.

Wednesday was the deadline for counting ballots for the Feb. 27 primary that were postmarked on time but received after Election Day from voters who are in the military or overseas.

The unofficial Election Day totals showed that in a three-way race, Michael Buscher had a 12-vote edge, besting Frank Lesko, 668-656, with David Danner coming in third at 419.

However, with the additional votes from absentee ballots, it turns out that Lesko actually won by six votes - 680-674, with 432 for Danner.

The change means that Lesko, instead of Buscher, will be listed first on the April 17 general election ballot for the Ward 4 seat. The primary is designed to cut the field of candidates in each race to two.

"I'm very happy," Lesko said Wednesday. "Everyone has to know by races like this that their vote does count, and it's very important."

Buscher said he remains "excited as I can be to be one of the top two" who go on to the general election.

He said he knows both he and Lesko are working hard for support, and that hasn't changed since Election Day, when the totals were close. He's known all along, he said, that "it's going to be a battle."

Sangamon County Clerk Joe Aiello, who oversees the county's election office, said the election law allowing 14 days after an election to count certain absentee and provisional ballots is doing exactly what it is designed to do - make sure that every vote counts.