Steps taken for recount in Wilkerson race

September 22, 2008 11:45 AM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

State Senator Dianne Wilkerson (left) lost to Sonia Chang-Diaz in the Democratic primary.

By John C. Drake, Globe Staff

Both Boston state Senate candidates have requested a recount of last Tuesday's Democratic primary, in which longtime incumbent Dianne Wilkerson lost her reelection bid by 228 votes to challenger Sonia Chang-Diaz.

Wilkerson and Chang-Diaz took out petition papers this morning from the Secretary of State's office, said spokesman Brian McNiff. To request a recount, candidates must collect 50 signatures from each ward in which they want a recount and submit the signed petition papers to the city election department by 5 p.m. today. There are 10 wards in the Second Suffolk Senate district.

Wilkerson requested that wards 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 be recounted.

Chang-Diaz requested that ward 19 be recounted.

The candidates provided to the Board signatures of 50 registered Democrats living in each ward requested.

Before a recount can take place, the Board of Elections Commissioners for the City of Boston must certify each signature. Tomorrow, the results of the certification process will be announced.

Chang-Diaz stunned Wilkerson by defeating the 15-year incumbent in her second attempt. An analysis of election returns show that Wilkerson won big in her home base of Roxbury and central Dorchester, while Chang-Diaz captured Jamaica Plain, the Fenway, Back Bay, Chinatown, and the South End. Chang-Diaz won 50.57 percent of the vote while Wilkerson won 49.29 percent.