Dead candidates win elections in Florida, Alabama

[tucker rocky]

http://news.yahoo.com/dead-candidate...202607386.html

(Reuters) - Florida Democrat Earl K. Wood and Alabama Republican Charles Beasley won their respective elections but they will not take office.
Both men died weeks before the November 6 election yet managed to beat their very much alive opponents by comfortable margins.
Wood died on October 15 from natural causes at age 96, during his campaign for a 12th term as Orange County Tax Collector in Orlando, Florida.
Criticized for rarely coming into the office while collecting a $150,000 salary and $90,000 pension, Wood initially announced he would step down, only to change his mind when a longtime political foe made plans to seek the seat.
Wood's wide name recognition after almost half a century in office scared off several serious contenders. His name remained on the ballot and he took 56 percent of the votes to 44 percent for a Republican who promised to eliminate the office altogether if elected.
Beasley, 77, died on October 12, possibly due to an aneurysm, while trying to reclaim his old seat on the Bibb County Commission in central Alabama.
Beasley's name also remained on the ballot and he won about 52 percent of the vote. His Democratic opponent, incumbent Commissioner Walter Sansing, took the loss especially hard.
"It is a touchy situation. When you are running against a dead man, you are limited as to what you can say," Sansing told Reuters.
He blamed people voting straight Republican tickets for his loss.
In Orlando, Scott Randolph, an outgoing Democratic state legislator and state party activist, was selected by his party to receive votes cast for Wood and he will assume the office. In Alabama, the governor will appoint a new commissioner with input from local Republicans.

"It is a touchy situation. When you are running against a dead man, you are limited as to what you can say," Sansing told Reuters.

You don't say.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I did a lousy job of actually, you know, comprehending everything in the o.p

[molson]

Both living candidates should have insisted on televised debates.

[Chief Rum]

The living losers should have epitaphs for when they die that say, "Maybe I'll run for office now!"

[Julio Riddols]

Weekend at Bernies 3: Election Day

[stevew]

Missouri loves company.

[RainMaker]

Happened in Minnesota too.

Dead Minn. City Council president wins re-election | Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, North Dakota

[sterlingice]

You know, I don't feel too badly about this. These are down ballot races with popular, longtime incumbents. This isn't a Carnahan story where everyone knew the candidate was dead

SI

[Wolfpack]

It also sorta happened with Jesse Jackson Jr getting re-elected in Illinois in spite of being pretty much non-existent in campaigning because he's been at the Mayo Clinic for a variety of issues.

Then again, in his district, a small pebble painted with a letter "D" on it would still garner the same vote percentages against any other candidate.

[SteveMax58]

I love the Onion...wait

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

You know, I don't feel too badly about this. These are down ballot races with popular, longtime incumbents. This isn't a Carnahan story where everyone knew the candidate was dead

SI

I don't understand the problem with the Carnahan story. I would've voted for a dead guy before Ashcroft for sure.

[ISiddiqui]

Yes, that is true that these are likely the result of voting one party all the way down the ballot, but also I'm sure supporters realize that while the dead person won't take the seat, someone the party has already picked will (and they may know who that person is).

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

I don't understand the problem with the Carnahan story. I would've voted for a dead guy before Ashcroft for sure.

Good point

SI