The Buzz: One registrar, two super-close statewide races | Modesto Bee

Close state race is nothing new for L.A. registrar

County registrars hate close elections, and Dean Logan is in his second go-around with a statewide squeaker.

Logan is the registrar-recorder/county clerk in Los Angeles County, the state’s largest and likely a central front in any recount in the extremely tight finish in the California controller primary. Board of Equalization member Betty Yee leads former Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez by just 481 votes, out of more than 4 million votes cast, for second place. People have until 5 p.m. today to request a recount.

It’s familiar territory for Logan. A decade ago, he was the elections chief in King County, Wash., during the lengthy recount fight after the November 2004 governor’s election. Democrat Christine Gregoire defeated Republican Dino Rossi by just 129 votes.

In an email, Logan said close elections “bring with them very emotionally and politically charged dynamics.”

“What I have learned from my experience administering elections in both states – and in dealing with election outcomes with very thin margins – is the importance of consistency, transparency and due diligence,” Logan said.

– Jim Miller

Worth repeating

“If I say I weigh 119, I weigh 119.”

HOLLY MITCHELL, Los Angeles Democrat, jokingly urging DMV Director Jean M. Shiomoto to allow people to specify wannabe weights on their driver’s licenses at a Senate Rules Committee hearing.