finney drops bid for recount

Senator Raymond Finney officially withdrew his petition for recount of the votes in the August 7, 2008 election for the Eighth Senate District Republican Primary

Finney said in an open letter that he filed the petition for recount after receiving concerns from Sevier County district constituents. But because of the short post-election time frame involved in filing a petition and his lack of investigatory personnel, Finney said he was unable to assess the validity of those concerns.
In his letter Finney said the minimum of $6,000 that he was required to pay for a recount was prohibitive. He said if litigation would be involved, the legal costs would be much higher and even more prohibitive.

“After talking to you recently by telephone, I feel that little could be accomplished by a recount,” Finney said in his open letter to Randy Stamps, the State Director of the Republican Party. “I have already spent too much of my retirement savings in running for this seat in 2004 and 2008. My wife, Linda, and I don not with to spend more on this race.”

An obviously frustrated Finney added a statement directed to the local media in regards to his withdrawal.

“I was naïve enough to believe that hard work, close communication, high moral character, and honest might be sufficient for re-election,” Finney said in a statement directed at the local new media. “It now seems to me that the election process is dominated by a relatively small number of rich and powerful persons.

“This situation may represent reality throughout America,” he continued. “But it threatens our democratic republic. Government should work for all people equally, without favor to any persons or groups.”
Finney said later in his statement that he plans to never again seek election to a public office.

He finished by offering his gratitude to his loyal supporters and saying he will continue to strive to make changes for the good.
”Linda and I have been thinking of a way to bring some good out of this situation,” said Finney. “We now know how we may use the six-thousand dollars that could have been used for a recount to help others for years to come.

“Because we take to heart Jesus’ teaching about hypocrites’ giving in public (Matthew 6:1-4), our donations are always made in strict confidentiality and privacy. I cannot divulge what we plan. We have landed on our feet, though, and we will continue to enjoy our quiet and simple lives.”