Election victory for two dead candidates

Florida Democrat Earl K Wood and Alabama Republican Charles Beasley won their elections but will not take office.

Thu, 08 Nov, 2012 - 00:00

Barbara Liston and Verna Gates

Both men died weeks before the Nov 6 election yet managed to beat their very much alive opponents by comfortable margins.

Wood died on Oct 15 from natural causes aged 96, during his campaign for a 12th term as Orange County tax collector in Orlando, Florida.

Criticised for rarely coming into the office while collecting a $150,000 (€117,455) salary and $90,000 pension, Wood initially announced he would step down, only to change his mind when a longtime political foe made plans to seek the seat.

Wood’s wide name recognition after almost half a century in office scared off several serious contenders. His name remained on the ballot and he took 56% of the votes to 44% for a Republican who promised to eliminate the office altogether if elected.

Beasley, 77, died on Oct 12, possibly due to an aneurysm, while trying to reclaim his old seat on the Bibb County Commission in central Alabama.

His name also remained on the ballot and he won about 52% of the vote. His Democratic opponent, incumbent commissioner Walter Sansing, took the loss especially hard.

“It is a touchy situation. When you are running against a dead man, you are limited as to what you can say,” Sansing told Reuters.

He blamed people voting straight Republican tickets for his loss.

In Orlando, outgoing Democratic state legislator and state party activist Scott Randolph, was selected by his party to receive votes cast for Wood and will assume the office. In Alabama, the governor will appoint a new commissioner with input from local Republicans.

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