Board affirms recount election victory

Associated Press

Updated: Dec 10, 2012 4:12 PM

SANTA FE (AP) — The state Canvassing Board has made it official that Republican Paul Pacheco won a recount for an Albuquerque-area seat in the state House of Representatives.

The board on Monday certified the recount results, which showed Pacheco defeating Democrat Marci Blaze by 78 votes. That's up from a 66-vote margin before the recount. The district covers parts of Sandoval and Bernalillo counties.

Unofficial recount returns had indicated a 79 vote margin, but Bernalillo County corrected its figures. Pacheco is a retired Albuquerque policeman.

Pacheco's victory means Democrats will hold a 38-32 advantage in the House. Currently, Democrats have a 36-33 majority and there's one independent.

The canvassing board is made up of the governor, secretary of state and chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

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