Riverbank recount starts Monday

The recount in the Riverbank mayoral race will start at 8 a.m. Monday, an election official announced Thursday.

Incumbent Mayor Virginia Madueño requested the recount Tuesday, five days after certified results for the Nov. 6 election showed her losing by 53 votes to Councilman Richard O'Brien.

An attorney for Madueño said Wednesday that the request was made because of "many voting-related irregularities reported on Election Day in Riverbank."

The attorney referred The Bee to Madueño for details on the allegations. She has not responded to multiple requests for comment this week.

The recount will be open to the public and run for at least six hours per business day until done, said Lee Lundrigan, clerk-recorder and registrar of voters for Stanislaus County.

It will take place at the registrar's office, 1021 I St., Modesto.

Meanwhile, O'Brien is scheduled to be sworn in as mayor at Monday evening's meeting of the Riverbank City Council.

City Attorney Tom Hallinan said state election law requires that the winner in the certified vote be seated even if a recount is under way.

Should Madueño win through the recount, a voter can demand that she take office under another provision of the law.

O'Brien had 3,098 votes in the certified results to 3,045 for Madueño.

The law requires Madueño to pay for the recount if it does not change the outcome. Lundrigan would not estimate a potential cost.