Former Del. Phillip D. Bissett - who apparently fell just short of unseating Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens on Tuesday - said yesterday that he plans to scrutinize absentee ballots and investigate precinct inconsistencies before conceding the race.
Bissett, a Mayo Republican, said he hasn't ruled out calling for a recount. He said he will meet with legal experts today to explore his options. He has until Nov. 18 to file for a recount, a process that could cost his campaign several thousand dollars - money he said would be well-spent.
"It is too close to let this go without challenging it," said Bissett, 46, who will be at the county Board of Elections in Glen Burnie today to observe as employees begin tabulating absentee ballots. The absentee count could take a day or more to finish.
According to an unofficial tally, Owens defeated Bissett by 52 percent to 48 percent - or by 6,576 votes out of 166,708 votes for both candidates that have been counted.
Bob DiPietro, a spokesman for the Owens campaign, said yesterday that he understands why Bissett wants to wait to concede the election.
"When you are talking about a 6,000-vote margin, it doesn't surprise me that he wants to wait until all the absentees are counted," said DiPietro.
Owens hasn't declared victory.
C. Richard D'Amato and Herbert H. McMillan, candidates in the District 30 House of Delegates race, also might show up for the ballot count. D'Amato, a Democrat from Annapolis and first-term delegate, lost by 288 votes to McMillan, a Republican and former Annapolis alderman.
Owens had a strong showing in traditionally Democratic areas in the northern and western parts of the county, as well as in Annapolis. Bissett won more votes in the Severna Park area, Pasadena and South County.
Although she refused to declare victory late Tuesday night, Owens appeared to be celebrating at the Yellowfin restaurant in Edgewater. As she hugged and kissed supporters, flanked by a bodyguard in a black trench coat, the county executive abruptly seized her husband's hand and led him to the dance floor. She lost one of her black pumps on the way, but that didn't faze her, as the couple danced to a live performance of "What a Wonderful World."
Political observers said that Owens' apparent win could be owed in large part to a campaign strategy that distanced her from Democratic gubernatorial nominee Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who lost by 65 percent to 35 percent - or more than 50,000 votes - to Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. in Anne Arundel.
Sun staff writer Laura Loh contributed to this article.