Loser of tied southern Indiana mayor’s race won’t appeal

JASPER, Ind. (AP) – The loser of a southern Indiana mayor’s race decided by a single vote has decided not to appeal a recount.

Democratic candidate Wayne Schuetter of Jasper tells The (Jasper) Herald  that after talking to attorneys, he decided a legal challenge would be costly, the odds of winning were slim, and it wasn’t in the city’s best interest.

Schuetter had until Thursday to file an appeal of a recount commission’s decision.

He and Republican Mayor Terry Seitz each received 1,856 votes in the November election, but the recount commission decided the contest when two Republican members of the three-member panel determined an absentee ballot for Schuetter was invalid because it had not been initialed by two members of the county clerk’s office, as required by state code.