05092003 - News Article - Challenger calls for judge's race recount - Incumbent's win by 11 votes secured by absentee ballots - ROBERT CANTRELL

Challenger calls for judge's race recount
Incumbent's win by 11 votes secured by absentee ballots
NWI Times
May 9, 2003
nwitimes.com/news/local/challenger-calls-for-judge-s-race-recount/article_45fc6219-146f-5e0d-8266-06496f1e3f69.html
SCHERERVILLE -- Attorney Kenneth Anderson announced Thursday he will seek a recount in the Democratic primary election for Schererville Town Court judge.

Eleven votes were all that separated him from the No. 1 vote-getter, incumbent Judge Deborah Riga, when all the ballots were tallied Tuesday night.

Anderson actually garnered more votes at the polls Tuesday, but the number of votes from absentee ballots gave Riga an 11-vote edge.

Anderson said he believes that absentee votes should reflect the way people voted at the polls, but that wasn't how the race turned out.

Anderson had 80 more votes at the polls, but Riga had three times as many absentee votes.

"I think democracy is important and that the process should be followed to its completion," Anderson said. "And I will follow it to the end."

The campaign came with several side issues.

An attorney working for Anderson's campaign sued Riga for access to records regarding traffic tickets handled through Riga's court.

A Lake County judge ordered Riga to turn over records May 2 that Frank R. Martinez III, a Highland lawyer and campaign official for Anderson, said may be evidence of the illegal redirection of thousands of dollars in state and county court revenues to Schererville's town coffers.

Judge John Pera ordered Riga to make available copies of traffic tickets that may have been improperly reclassified by her from state to local infractions which, in turn, would divert the money to the town from the state.

Candidates Randy Godshalk and Ben Murphy were both stopped by police for alleged drunken driving.

Godshalk was stopped Jan. 28, but the Lake County prosecutor's office dismissed a misdemeanor count against Godshalk on April 22 after a judge ruled the evidence against him was too unreliable to be used in a trial.

Murphy was stopped April 22 for speeding. Police alleged Murphy smelled of alcohol, had watery eyes, was unsteady and failed a field sobriety test. A breath test indicated Murphy had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.14, which is more than the legal limit, the affidavit said. He has not been arraigned. No court date is set in the matter.