UPDATE: A recount has just been called in the West Palm Beach mayor's race. The notice came out Wednesday afternoon calling for a machine recount. The West Palm Beach Canvassing Board will be meeting on Friday.
Mayer-elect Keith james released the following statement:
I want every vote in the West Palm Beach Mayor’s election to count. I fully support the recount process that is being initiated. The election results show we received over half the votes, and that I had twice as many votes as my two opponents. I do not expect the outcome of this election to change as a result of the recount. We are prepared for the run-off election, if needed. Meanwhile, until the recount results are verified, I will continue working on my transition plan as mayor-elect based on the current vote tally. Regards, Keith A. James, Esq. Keith A. James, P.A. 105 South Narcissus Avenue Suite 505 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561.655.9200 (office)
EARLIER STORY:
West Palm Beach Commissioner Keith James will soon become Mayor Keith James, after earning 50.3 percent of the vote, enough to avoid a runoff between Commissioner Paula Ryan and Priscilla Taylor.
RELATED: Full election results
James was endorsed by former mayor and current U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel and from current Mayor Jeri Mouio.
James told us after he declared victory, “We told voters we believed in West Palm Beach we were bullish on West Palm Beach and I think most voters believed that way. Do we have work to do in areas? Absolutely but the voters believed that West Palm Beach is headed in the right direction and I’m the guy to continue to take us there.”
He also joked in our interview saying West Palm Beach voters are smart, adding, at least 50 percent of them.