Canvass gives Democrats seat in House

BROCK VERGAKIS - The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY -- Democrats picked up one seat in the Legislature following Tuesday's Salt Lake County canvass, but Republicans will still hold a super majority in both houses.

Rep. Carl Duckworth, D-Magna, won re-election by 33 votes following the counting of absentee and provisional ballots Tuesday. He had trailed Republican challenger Deena Detton Ely by 25 votes following the Nov. 7 election.

"We knew it was very close," Ely said. "I had been on pins and needles waiting on the official results. I knew it could go either way."

Any candidate can demand a re-count if the loss equals less than one vote for every precinct in a district. Because Ely lost by 33 votes and there are 29 precincts, she is ineligible. She said she's unsure whether she will run for office in the future.

"I think I'm still trying to absorb what's happened today. I'm not thinking that far ahead," she said.

Coupled with other Democratic victories, Republicans lost one seat in the 75 member House of Representatives.

That includes a win by Democrat Phil Riesen, a former television reporter, who was leading Rep. Susan Lawrence, R-Salt Lake City, by 103 votes following the general election. Tuesday's canvass shows that Riesen won by 216 votes.

However, Republicans still control 55 seats in the House and control 21 of 29 seats in the Senate.

Duckworth was one of several incumbents facing tight races. House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, led Democratic challenger F. Jay Seegmiller by 46 votes following the Nov. 7 election.

After Tuesday's canvass, that lead was down to 19 votes. That's a small enough margin for Seegmiller to demand a re-count.

Seegmiller said Tuesday night he would be asking for a re-count.

"In a normal election I don't know that there would be much chance, but with these new machines we don't know what kind of glitches there might be," Seegmiller said. He has seven days to request a re-count.

Curtis said several factors led to such a close race.

"I think there was some very negative campaigning that went on and there was a national frustration with Republicans. I do believe it trickled down into Utah," Curtis said. "And clearly, I have some constituents that are probably frustrated with me. I have to accept some of that responsibility."

Curtis, who has already been re-elected House Speaker by his colleagues, said winning by such a small margin likely would affect his influence in the Legislature.

"Obviously, as speaker this is probably the closest race that a sitting speaker has had, at least in my political memory," said Curtis, who was first elected in 1994. "But with most of our colleagues, once you're sworn in on the first day ... your vote, your serving in the Legislature is not diminished in any way."

The State Board of Canvassers will meet to certify the results of statewide and multi-county races on Monday.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D3.