What Am I Missing?
In today’s Tribune, we get the final vote totals from last week’s election. 79 provisional ballots had to be checked to ensure the same day voters didn’t vote in another county, which is why we are just finding out what the “official” count is. OK. That makes sense. But just in the mayoral race alone, what the Tribune posted as final results and the unofficial final results that Joe Briggs posted here, are off by almost 4,800 votes. Each of the mayoral candidates lost about half of their votes between last week and yesterday. (The totals for the other candidates are off too). How did 79 votes result in a 4,800 vote deficit?
Is there a period missing? Are not those percentages with a missing period?
This is what the Tribune has posted:
“In the election, incumbent Mayor Dona Stebbins defeated Ed McKnight in the mayoral race 2,234 votes to 1,930 votes, while Mary Jolley and Bill Bronson won in a five-person race for two spots on the City Commission. Jolly finished with 2,664 votes while Bronson had 2,265 votes.”
And this is what the Tribune reported last week:
DONA STEBBINS — 4,100 votes (40.7%)
ED McKNIGHT — 3,824 votes (38%)
MARY JOLLEY — 5,148 votes (26.4%)
BILL BRONSON — 4,150 votes (21.3%)
So I’m pretty puzzled, too. What’s going on? Trouble at the Trib, at the Elections Office, or in my reading skills?
This could be a magical phenomenon. Somebody needs to teach me that magic trick.
Mary,
The Trib didn’t present these numbers as percentages, but as Final Vote Totals, but let’s say for sake of argument, that’s what they meant. We still have a problem. The mayoral “percentages”, as published, only add up to %52.5.
Gee Guy,
The Tribune misread the canvas spreadsheet. The numbers they reported are only the totals from the first page ( Preceincts 18A through 22B). The official totals are as follows:
Mayors Race:
Susan Kahn 1419
Oops,
I hit the some key by mistake and posted a partial comment:
Mayor:
Dona Stebbins 4135
Ed Mc Knight 3848
Susan Kahn 1419
Larry Steele 708
Commission:
Mary Jolley 5181
Bill Bronson 4180
Diane Jovik-Kuntz 3606
Stewart Lewin 3471
Elna Hensley 2078
Mike Winters 1052
I have this on an excel spreadsheet if anyone would like a copy email me at jbriggs@co.cascade.mt and I will send it to you. I also have the details on the Neighborhood council races on a spreadsheet as well.
This is embarassing. I better just stop trying to type today.
My email is jbriggs@co.cascade.mt.us
Joe,
Thanks very much for posting the correct information.
OK, now the real test: will the Trib publish a correction on the front page tomorrow?
Um, no?
You’re probably right, GeeGuy — but I think the Trib should publish a correction on the front page.
I heard from a trusted source today that newspapers never publish corrections on the front page — to which I respond “why not?”
Wonders never cease! Look what the Tribune posted:
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/NEWS01/71114006
As I said, Gee Guy CAUSES the Fibune to be a better paper! They will soon approach junior high quality!…………….maybe now they will write a REAL editorial, NOT one on smoking! I mean, geez, how controversial is that?! What’s next, brushing your teeth every day?! Maybe!
Evidently GeeGuy and I must have similar writing styles for at least two commenters to think he posted this tidbit. I consider myself in good company so no offense taken! (-:
Larry, why don’t you just give up and call the newspaper by the proper name? Seriously.
There is a certain irony to it. Look at all the commenter mistakes made while trying to harpoon the Trib for making a mistake.
Thursday Morning: kudos to the Tribune for publishing the correction on the front page!
I have found quitting will be literally impossible. I started cigarette smoking while I was 14 years old. It had been the most unfortunate wrong move I’ve made. Today I am 45 years old and I have chronic copd. I sampled a pile of the quit smoking scams and yet not one did the trick. My last hope is the e cigs in the end.