A retabulation of votes in Kenton County’s 23rd Senate District race was completed this morning.

Results were unchanged in the disputed race between Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, and Kathy Groob, a Covington Democrat. Groob still lost by 807 votes.

Link: Votes don’t change in recanvass

State election officials say votes in Kenton County’s 23rd Senate District will be retabulated next week.

Secretary of State Trey Grayson will conduct a recanvass of ballots in the disputed race between Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, and Covington Democrat Kathy Groob Thursday at 9 a.m.

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Wednesday [Nov. 5], after the developer of the E-Slate voting machines - Harp Election Services of Lexington - took responsibility for the error, Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe ordered a recount of the disputed straight-ticket ballots.

The recount, which took the Kenton County Board of Elections more than seven hours to complete, gave Westwood a bigger edge. The recount, completed just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, showed that Westwood picked up 447 votes while Groob gained 343 votes. That gave Westwood a lead of 807 votes, 21,057 to 20,250.

Democrat Kathy Groob was hoping to pick up some votes in a court-ordered recount of her state Senate race against Republican Sen. Jack Westwood.

But after nearly seven hours of hand-counting ballots from 84 voting machines Wednesday, Groob lost ground to Westwood, the Crescent Springs Republican who apparently will hold onto his 23rd Senate District seat in Kenton County.

The recount, completed just before 10 p.m., showed that Westwood picked up 447 votes while Groob gained 343 votes. That gave Westwood a lead of just over 800 votes, 21,057 to 20,250.

“Senator Westwood is pleased that every vote was counted,” said Fort Thomas lawyer Jay Dickerson, who represents Westwood. “Obviously it did not change the election, but it was important for all the votes to be counted.

Groob has asked Secretary of State Trey Grayson for a recanvass of all votes on Thursday.

Link: Count Complete, Westwood Still Ahead

The GUTS List is about showing your support for candidates who understand that supporting business means jobs and investment, which leads to a higher quality of life for all Kentuckians.

You can show your support for Jack by donating to his campaign, displaying a yard sign, or volunteering in other ways.

Help keep Jack’s experience and commitment to our community in Frankfort! Here are some easy ways to help:

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“One of the best things about campaigns is you get to go door-to-door and start talking to the people you represent,” Westwood said. “I cannot tell you how many folks I have met who said, ‘I really wish you would reconsider the issue about the casino gambling.’

“I have come to the conclusion, depending upon how the language (of legislation) is phrased, I think I could probably at least support the concept of putting it on the ballot. I don’t like gambling. I don’t think it is a good idea, I think it is very bad public policy. But … I represent the people, and if they want me to give them that opportunity, then I’m considering that maybe is what I should do.”

The full article can be read here.

Patrick Crowley of the Cincinnati Enquirer spoke with Jack about the ad and described in it this way:

The ad is a basic introduction of Westwood, his life and teaching career in Northern Kentucky and legislation he has supported and sponsored in Frankfort. He claims to have “blocked tax increases,” gotten “tough on crime involving meth and rape” and helped secure $54 million in state money for Northern Kentucky University’s Bank of Kentucky arena.

The ad also tells about Jack’s service to his church, as well as his role on the boards of local nonprofits like New Hope Pregnancy Center and Mercy Maternity Home. Both of these organizations assist women who are experiencing crisis pregnancies by providing support, material assistance, and acceptance.

The Enquirer also provides a link to listen to the ad.

The Legislature met during the final week of June in an extraordinary session to address the pension reform issue that, quite simply, could not wait another year for resolution. Public pensions were facing a $27 billion unfunded liability which is about three times our annual budget, and the gap between what was in the pension fund and what should have been in it was increasing every year, threatening state, city, county and school budgets.

And, although we were able to pass HB 1 in the minimum five days required to pass legislation, there is still much to be done to control costs and slow the growth of the unfunded liability.

One of the main features of HB 1 is a requirement for the General Assembly to contribute an increasing percentage of the Actuarial Recommended Contribution (ARC) to the Pension Fund over the next 17 years, so that, by 2025, the state would be contributing 100% of the ARC. The state pension systems are funded by employee and employer contributions as well as investment returns. The ARC represents the employer contribution.

Another key point of HB 1 is a requirement for all new non-hazardous employees to contribute 5 % of their pay towards their pension and 1% for health care. Also the benefit factor will increase the longer employees work, and they must work longer to receive full retirement benefits. Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) will be limited to 1.5% per year for current employees and retirees, but the General Assembly can increase that if it prefunds the cost.

It’s important to understand that, even with these reforms, when the General Assembly fully meets the ARC schedule in 2025, our unfunded liability will be even greater than it is now.

That’s why it is important to keep reforming the system so that it more closely resembles the private sector pension system. HB 1 is a critical first step, but it’s not the final solution. It just means “we will be falling behind more slowly,” according to Senate President David Williams.