Outgoing San Bernardino Councilman Henry Nickel will not seek a recount of the ballots cast in the November 3 election, despite earlier indicating he would do so.
Nickel, who in March finished first with 1,802 votes for 35.45 percent in a six-candidate race in San Bernardino’s Fifth Ward, was nevertheless forced into a run-off against the second place finisher, Ben Reynoso, with 1,295 votes or 25.48 percent, because neither captured a majority of the vote. Last month, according to the final certified results from the registrar of voters office, Reynoso, with 5,772 votes or 52.74 percent, bested the incumbent Nickel, with 5,172 votes or 47.26 percent.
Nickel was ahead on election night, when 11 of 12 precincts had reported, 2,494 votes or 50.25 percent to 2,469 votes or 49.75 percent. The next morning, with all 12 precincts in Ward 5 reporting, Reynoso had pulled ahead, 3,016 or 50.65 percent to 2,935 or 49.29 percent. Over the next several weeks, as more and more absentee, mail-in and provisional ballots were counted, Reynoso’s lead increased.
Nickel suspects election fraud, stating that Reynoso was endorsed by the union representing the county’s employees, including election workers. He said he wanted a recount, but after learning that carrying out such a tally precinct-by-precinct will cost $192,000, he said he could not afford to proceed. He yet maintains that the election was stolen from him.