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Landslide Leo: 1-Vote Margin In District 5 Bears Further Scrutiny

Hartford Courant Editorial

August 27, 2012

Editor's note: Leo Canty, who won the Democratic nomination in the 5th House District, was tied with candidate Brandon McGee after the initial vote count in the Aug. 14 primary. The original news story and this editorial incorrectly said initial results had McGee ahead by one vote, 774-773.

Who could blame first-time candidate Brandon McGee for asking the state Superior Court to take a look at the vote-counting procedures in his state House district after the Aug. 14 primary election?

Last week, union activist Leo Canty defeated Mr. McGee by one vote — 774 to 773 — to win the Democratic nomination for the 5th House District seat in Windsor and part of Hartford. The Democratic winner will face Windsor board of education member Paul Panos, a Republican, in the Nov. 6 general election.

Enough doubt has been raised about the vote that taking it to court is a reasonable course for Mr. McGee to follow.

Mr. Canty, who is Windsor Democratic Town Committee chairman, was the party-endorsed candidate. As a party insider, he worked hard and ultimately effectively to have the Democratic-controlled legislature redraw district lines to give Windsor Democrats a majority within the district. He was seen as a heavy favorite in the primary.

He bears the nickname "Landslide Leo" with good humor — but would rather move on to the general election campaign against the Republican nominee. You can't blame him, either.

But Mr. McGee, who is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, and his voters deserve a better explanation of the circumstances on Election Day that ultimately ended in the narrowest of victories.

Such questions must be answered so that all voters can have faith in the integrity of the system.