Smiley mayoral recount set for May 31

Gonzales County Elections Administrator Gwen Schaefer will conduct a formal recount of the Smiley mayoral race at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, at the Randle-Rather building in Gonzales.

Incumbent Mayor Mike Mills requested the recount after final but unofficial results from the May 7 election showed challenger and former City Councilwoman Lisa Dominguez Benavidez had outgained him by a single vote, 69-68.

He told the Inquirer he sought the recount after allegations of what he called “election violations, ethics violations and voter fraud” came to light during the campaign.

At a special called meeting Wednesday, May 18, City Secretary Deborah Bustamente told the audience the recount would be conducted by the Gonzales County Elections Office under her oversight as official election administrator for the city.

“We have to allow seven days for three people to be found with no interest in this election,” Bustamente said of the recount board that would be chosen. “Both candidates will be asked to attend an after-hours meeting in Gonzales, where Gwen Schaefer will chair over this and I’ll be the administrator.”

The recount could confirm Benavidez’ election as the city’s first-ever female mayor or it could overturn the results and declare Mills as the winner if it is determined some of the votes for Benavidez were invalid.

Mills presided over the election canvass on May 18, which was performed by Benavidez and City Councilwoman Diana Moreno. The two top votegetters in the at-large City Council race — Melva Childress and Ellis Villasana — were declared to have been elected and were sworn into office by Municipal Judge Gary Schroeder.