Recounts ordered in SD 19, circuit judge race

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

After narrow margins in Tuesday's primary elections, Secretary of State Ken Detzner late Thursday ordered machine recounts in the races for a Tampa Bay Senate seat and a Northeast Florida judgeship. Detzner's orders were triggered by a requirement for recounts when results show a candidate winning by 0.5 percent or less. Canvassing boards will have to submit the recount results by 3 p.m. Sunday. One recount was ordered in the Democratic primary in Senate District 19, where Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg held a 76-vote lead over Rep. Ed Narain of Tampa after Tuesday's voting. The other recount was ordered in the race for a judgeship in the 4th Judicial Circuit, which includes Duval, Nassau and Clay counties. Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey led challenger Gerald Wilkerson by 760 votes. Rouson and Narain are seeking to succeed term-limited Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, in a district that includes parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Hulsey has drawn attention recently because of allegations that he made racist and sexist remarks --- allegations he denies.