By Jack Brammer
NKyTribune reporter
Jessica Neal, a candidate in last spring’s Republican primary election for state Senate District 24 that covers Campbell, Pendleton, Bracken and part of Kenton counties, posted $57,368 Monday with the Campbell circuit court clerk to get a recount of the election.
Neal, who works in the financial services industry, met a 1 p.m. Monday court-ordered deadline to get the recount. The Cold Spring resident tried to raise funds over the weekend to come up with the money.
“I am THRILLED to share with all of you that I posted the bond amount of $57,368 with the Campbell County Circuit Court Clerk this morning! None of this would have been possible without your generous support. Thank you,” Neal wrote on her campaign Facebook page.
She said voting machines from the four counties will be moved to the Campbell County Courthouse to begin the recount Wednesday morning.
“Stay tuned,” she said, adding, “Thank you again for your incredible support of this effort.”
Neal did not return a phone call and an email seeking comment.
In last May’s election, Neal trailed by about 3 percentage points to Shelley Funke Frommeyer, a Certified Financial Planner of Alexandria. Frommeyer had 4,094 votes (38.6 percent) to Neal’s 3,787 (35.7percent). Chris Robinson, a clinical counselor of Alexandria, amassed 2,731 votes – about 25.7 percent.
Frommeyer is to face Democrat Rene Heinrich, a Highland Heights city council member, in the Nov. 8 general election.
The contest is for an open seat. Wil Schroder, a Wilder Republican, did not seek re-election.
Neal first asked for a recount on May 27. She has suggested that there is fraud in the election system.
Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, has called Neal’s efforts “frivolous.”
On her primary campaign website, www.nealforky.com, Neal says, “The time for seat-filling politicians, anointed by the power brokers, is over. A true grassroots movement is here, supporting fighters for liberty.”
