TRAVERSE CITY -- Republican Ray Franz will continue his campaign for the state House of Representatives while Mike McManus returns to cherry farming after a recount upheld Franz's slim primary victory.
The manual recount of more than 17,300 votes boosted the Manistee County grocer's winning margin over state Sen. Michelle McManus's dad from nine votes to 21 votes. The final tally in the four-way race was 4,873 to 4,852.
McManus campaign spokeswoman Denise DeCook acknowledged the outlook was bleak as she left Benzie County Thursday afternoon on her way to Suttons Bay for the final recount.
"It's going the other way rather than getting closer," DeCook said. "You'd have to be pretty optimistic to believe we'll find 21 votes somewhere in Leelanau County."
McManus did pick up five votes in his home county Thursday afternoon but so did Franz.
Neither Franz nor McManus returned calls seeking comment Thursday.
The recount started in Mason County on Tuesday where both candidates picked up one vote. On Wednesday Franz padded his lead by nine votes in his home county of Manistee and added three more to his margin after Benzie County's recount Thursday morning.
Despite the growing margin DeCook said McManus never considered stopping the recount.
"Mike (McManus) felt he had to go through the entire recount for his volunteers and supporters," DeCook said. "He's very appreciative of all the support he received."
Before the recount McManus said if he lost he would still fully support Franz. "Both (Franz and McManus) have already been talking about how they'll sit down and put their forces together towards a victory in November," DeCook said.
Franz will face Democrat Dan Scripps, of Leland, in the November general election.
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