Mayoral Race Decided by High Card

8 years ago
Mayoral Race Decided by Ace of Clubs
14:36
05 Dec

When the votes were counted in the Mayoral race in Florida’s Bradenton County, the two candidates were tied; 195 votes apiece, even after a recount, – so what to do? Well how about a high-card draw to decide who wins!

Jack Clarke, the incumbent mayor and William Shearon, his immediate predecessor followed a rule of law which allows for “lots” to be drawn in the case of a tied election.


The Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Facebook page described the drawing of lots, stating that:

This method of "Lots" is written in the Florida statutes and last night the Bradenton Beach canvassing board decided on this method of lots should the re-count come out to the same number of ballots.”

As Clarke and Shearon looked on, county Supervisor of Elections Michael Bennett explained the rules and then Clarke cut the cards, Bennett reshuffled the cards with Shearon then taking his turn.

When the moment came, Shearon drew the A♣ and Clarke the 10♣ and the tie was broken in Shearon’s favour. It was the first time in at least 20 years that lots were used to decide an election in Manatee County according to the local newspaper, the Bradenton Herald, and the first-ever high-card draw.

Afterwards the victorious 68-year old Shearon said:

It feels wonderful. I'm glad that the turmoil is over and the questions are over."


The mayoral campaigning had at times been less than friendly. In his campaign letter, Clarke had described Shearon's campaign as a "shopping list of half-truths, exaggerations and misrepresentations, inaccuracies and outright lies, personal attacks."

Shearon had been removed from office last year, only to see a petition committee formed to recall him. His own campaigning had focused on Clarke’s “stifling of open discussion by officials during city commission meetings and stopping a citizens' initiative to enact a city moratorium on construction of oversized rental housing.”

The unlucky loser Clarke stated afterwards:

I would have preferred to continue as mayor, but we complied with all the laws," the 71-year-old adding. "The election was over yesterday and we move on."

Mayor Shearon said:

This was not an easy thing for any of us and, as Mike Bennett stated, we made history in Manatee County. ... Not a good way to make history, but we did make history."

A little more than 50% of Bradenton Beach's 758 registered voters cast ballots in the election, and the history-making drawing of cards can be viewed here.


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Andrew from Edinburgh, Scotland, is a professional journalist, international-titled chess master, and avid poker player.Read more

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