A Boise City Council candidate asked for a recount of 15-vote loss. The results are in

Ian Max Stevenson
·2 min read

A recount of votes in a City Council district in Southwest Boise yielded the same exact results, putting Kathy Corless behind the dais at City Hall for the next four years.

Corless ran against three others in District 3 and defeated her closest opponent, the more conservative Josh Johnston, by 15 votes, 2,566 to 2,551. Two other candidates, Theresa Vawter and Chris Blanchard, received 1,630 and 1,059 votes, respectively.

Johnston asked for a recount Tuesday, after the county certified the results, and paid $1,600 to have the votes reassessed in 16 precincts. District 3 runs from Ann Morrison Park out to West Victory Road and South Five Mile Road.

“After the full recount of all 16 precincts, the results remain unchanged,” according to a Thursday news release from the Ada County Clerk’s Office. The recount took place Thursday.

“The Idaho Attorney General’s Office oversaw the recount process and signed a letter confirming the results of the recount,” the release said.

Corless told the Idaho Statesman by text that the unchanged result exhibits “the integrity in our election process.”

“Mr. Johnson shook my hand and congratulated me,” Corless said. “He was very gracious. The residents voted, the votes have been confirmed twice, and I’m eager to be on council.”

Corless campaigned for Mayor Lauren McLean’s policies for denser housing in the city, while Johnston said he wanted more focus on single-family housing and criticized McLean’s management of the Boise Police Department. McLean was elected to a second term on Election Day, defeating Mike Masterson.

Johnston told the Statesman by text that he looks forward to Corless representing him on the council.

“The several contested races in Boise show divisions in how our residents feel about the direction of the city,” he said. “I encourage our mayor and City Council to consider the concerns expressed by the significant number of residents who voted a different way, even as we pull together to all work for the future of our wonderful city.”