Shelby County Election files answer in Germantown mayoral race complaint
Germantown incumbant Mayor Mike Palazzolo (right) and mayorial candidate John Barzizza campaign at the Riveroaks Reformed Presbyterian Church polling location in Germantown on Election Day in November. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian file)
Shelby County Election Commission filed a motion to dismiss a complaint filed by John Barzizza, Germantown mayoral candidate, saying his claims for a recount are without merit.
The election commission also filed an answer to Barzizza's claims.
In the motion the election commission states the facts in Barzizza’s complaint are false, but if they were true, he still would have lost to Mike Palazzolo by 50 votes.
Barzizza filed the lawsuit after the Nov. 6 municipal election in Germantown. Barzizza was challenging Palazzolo's 120-vote win.
The complaint says 543 absentee votes were cast in the Germantown election, while only 476 were counted. The election commission said 67 ballots did not have a vote for Germantown mayor.
The election commission said it tallied 37 of the 40 provisional ballots because three voters did not cast a vote for Germantown mayor.
The election commission denies the accusations in the complaint that they did not fairly distribute and count absentee and provisional ballots.
Barzizza filed the lawsuit after the Nov. 6 municipal election in Germantown. Barzizza was challenging Palazzolo's 120-vote win.
A spokesperson for the election commission said they do not comment on pending litigation. Immediate efforts to reach John Barzizza and his attorney were unsuccessful.
Topics
Election Mike Palazzolo John Barzizza Germantown
Abigail Warren
Abigail Warren is a lifelong resident of Shelby County and a May 2018 graduate of the University of Memphis. She has worked for several local publications and has covered Germantown since May 2018.
