OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Councilman Terry Goodman said he may ask for a recount in his bid for a fifth term on the Overland Park City Council and is blaming his apparent loss on news reporting of his series of text messages between him and his opponent.
Unofficially, with all 19 precincts reporting, challenger Gina Burke leads Goodman 1905 to 1795 votes.
But all the votes have not yet been counted.
According to Johnson County Election Office spokesman Nathan Carter, provisional ballots and mail-in ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. on election Tuesday will be counted as part of a countywide election canvass on Monday.
When asked about a possible recount, Goodman said, "If the margin tightens, I might make one decision. If it gets wider, I might make another decision."
Carter said candidates have until 5 p.m. this coming Tuesday to ask for a recount.
"I think he will ask for a recount because he can't let this election go," Burke said.
Goodman is blaming his apparent loss on news reporting of his series of text messages to Burke and a meeting with her before the election.
Burke claims Goodman made a series of attempts to get her to drop out of the race, including offering to put in a good word with Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach to get her a seat on the city's planning commission.
Goodman denies there was any such offer made.
In a letter Goodman sent to two women at the Kansas City Star and to some supporters, he not only blames his loss on the reporting of that story but also paints Burke as a right-wing extremist because she attended a meeting of Johnson County Conservative Republicans.
Goodman notes the public views of other people who attended that meeting to draw that conclusion and attached pictures.
41 Action News also reported on Goodman's text messages and meeting with Burke.
When asked about Goodman's letter blaming his loss on news coverage and his depiction of her as an extremist, Burke replied, "It's absolutely ridiculous, he's a sore loser".
"It's ludicrous to believe two people together in the same room have the same views," Burke added.
