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Hernando Today

Frankie Burnett Concedes Brooksville City Council Seat

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By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: November 6, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The way Vice Mayor Frankie Burnett sees it, he did his best to win another term and fell short by 34 votes. End of story.

Burnett said Wednesday he won't challenge the results of the heartbreakingly close contest against Joe Johnston III for the city council's Group 3 seat.

Burnett lost his seat by just 34 votes to Johnston, a former council member and mayor. Johnston took 1,152 votes of 2,800 total votes cast, or 41 percent. Burnett took 1,118 votes - 1 percent less.

A third candidate, Jason Sharp, took the rest.

Law requires an automatic recount if the margin of victory is less than half a percentage point.

But elections officials said yesterday that as many as 50 voters in Precinct 5 were not given the proper ballots that included the two city council races. At least six voters were contacted and allowed to vote on the proper ballot, elections officials said.

The county's canvassing board certified the results Wednesday after counting the provisional ballots. Burnett and Johnston each got one, Elections Supervisor Annie Williams said.

Burnett said that's enough for him.

"I had the desire to serve the city of Brooksville for another four years, but I also understand this business," he said. "Somebody's got to win, somebody's got to lose. I've done the best that I could. I don't feel bad about it."

As an incumbent, Burnett had a clear advantage against Sharp. But then Johnston, a former city mayor who left the council two years ago, jumped into the race at the last minute. The race between Burnett and Johnston - two candidates with experience and name recognition - was expected to be close.

Burnett said he's proud of the progress the city made in the last four years and will miss the "rapport" he had with council members.

He said he'll continue to be involved in the community, working with the South Brooksville Redevelopment, Inc., a group Burnett helped form to improve that blighted area of the city and neighboring unincorporated portion.

And he hinted strongly at another bid for city council or even a higher office, specifically mentioning county commission and state representative.

Johnston, who served on the council from 1993 to 2006, said he's looking forward to "settling in and working toward the best interests of the city."

After 13 years on the council and a lifetime in the city, he already knows his way around City Hall and has already served with three current council members. But he will have to get acquainted with two new council members, a new city manager and new police chief once he takes the oath of office in January.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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