The Results Are In! Cox Wins District 3 Seat

After a machine recount, a hand recount of part of the ballots, and five days of not knowing – the Election for District 3 Okaloosa County Commissioner is over.

Candidate Sherri Cox increased her election-night lead by one vote to 14 of more than 30,000 votes cast to win the election – which five candidates from across the county contested. Keri Pitzer finished as the runner-up in the election, which saw the margin of victory tally less than one-twentieth of a percentage point.

Repeated calls, messages, and emails to Cox have gone unanswered.

The Okaloosa County Canvassing Board, the group made up of a judge, a county commissioner, and the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections, Paul Lux, worked from 9 AM Saturday until 2 AM Sunday morning to certify the results of the election.

“The machine recount took just over nine hours to complete the retabulation of just under 36,000 ballots,” Lux said, “The manual recount of 3,550 outstacked ballots, as advertised, immediately followed and lasted until well after midnight. by the time the paperwork certifying the election was complete, it was after 1:00 AM.”

According to the Florida Department of State’s Website, the Supervisor of Elections then “upload[s results] to the Florida Division of Elections by the appropriate deadlines [outlined in this document]. The original certificate must be submitted immediately thereafter.”

Candidate Keri Pitzer, who gave Mid Bay News an interview about the recount process, noted that she accepted the incredibly close election results and that this loss didn’t mean that she would leave public life. “I do still plan to be involved as a district three resident,” Pitzer said, “know, I have concerns for our area. That’s what got me into this and that’s what’s gonna keep me involved very heavily is to make sure that the people of the North County are getting a voice.”

She also noted that the contract planners behind the county development study, which created some controversy during this election season, Inspire, would meet again on August 26 and 27 to hear from the public.

“Initial unofficial returns are to be filed no later than noon on the third day after any Primary Election and no later than noon on the fourth day after any General or other election,” The document on the Florida Department of State adds, “Second unofficial returns (if a recount is ordered by the Secretary of State) are filed no later than 3:00 PM on the fifth day after any Primary Election and no later than 3:00 PM on the ninth after any General Election and Presidential Preference Primary. Official returns are filed no later than 5:00 PM on the seventh day following a Primary Election and by noon on the twelfth day following the General Election and the Presidential Preference Primary.”