Blogging for Max

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Former Congressman Max Burns today announced that he will not seek a recount of the votes in Georgia’s new 12th District.  In election results certified yesterday by Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox, Burns barely trailed Barrow by 864 votes out of 142,438 cast.  Although Burns was entitled to an automatic recount as prescribed by Georgia election law because the percentage between the two candidates was less than one percentage point, he decided against moving forward with the automatic recount.

“I’ve talked with John this morning and informed him that I will not ask the Secretary of State for an automatic recount and wished him well in his future Congressional service,” said Burns.  “On November 7th, folks from all across the 12th District went to the polls and voted for the candidate of their choice, and unfortunately, we came up just a few votes short.  While the vote was extremely close, we accept the results as certified by the Secretary of State.

“I appreciate the seventy thousand plus voters in the 12th District who voted for me and our campaign to get this country back on track.  I am also thankful for the hundreds of volunteers who walked neighborhoods, made phone calls and campaigned for me in every corner of the district.  Thank you.  Lora and I met friends in all twenty-two counties and we’re both grateful for the trust they placed in us and for the opportunity to have served in Congress.  What an honor.”

Official results from the Secretary of State’s office show Burns received 70,787 or 49.7% and Barrow received 71,651 or 50.3%.

Burns, who is traveling to Ohio to attend a family funeral, will be available for reporters via telephone at 3:30 pm today.  For information regarding the call, please contact Tim Baker at (912) 656-6851.