LA FARGE, Wis. — This town of 750 can sympathize with the folks in Florida. Its voters are embroiled in a bitter election so close it will be decided in court — just like the nation's drawn-out presidential race between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
A $2.2 million remodeling project for the town's only public school remains in doubt because the community was so evenly divided Nov. 7 that the referendum ended in a tie. A recount verified the tie, a judge impounded the ballots, and a court fight was begun to decide whether one more yes vote should be counted.
To top things off: The school superintendent is named Lee Bush, and he moved to the school district from Florida.
"It's incredible, isn't it?" remarked resident Betty McElhouse.
Some people even blame Bush — Lee, not George — for the tie because he doesn't live in La Farge and couldn't vote in the election.
The issue stirs passions on both sides. Had the measure passed, a homeowner with a $50,000 home would have paid an extra $110 a year in taxes. About half the cost of remodeling the century-old school was to have been footed by the state.
"People won't do business with certain businessplaces now. Some won't talk with other people because of it," said Lonnie Muller, editor of the weekly La Farge Episcope, which urged a no vote.
The first vote was 392 to 392, leading to a recount Nov. 11. That also ended in a tie — this time 389-389 — after six ballots, three yes, three no, were discarded for various deficiencies by the canvassing board.
Referendum supporter Patricia Roth, a mother with two children in school, went to court Nov. 17. She contends one yes vote — initialed by one poll worker instead of two as required by law — should not have been discarded.
A court hearing is set for Dec. 18. If the tie is upheld, the measure will go down to defeat.
"This isn't about friendship. This is about democracy," said Roth, a 44-year-old nurse. "It is definitely worth looking at if that one vote was erroneously thrown out. Is the technicality of two poll workers' signatures more important than the vote itself?"
Many in the town about 40 miles southeast of La Crosse feel otherwise — like critics of Gore's continued legal fight over vote-counting in Florida.
"It's foolish. That's about all I can say," said Myra Daines, a 37-year-old mail carrier. "It's too bad it had to be so close, but that is the way the whole country has been running this year. Everybody is divided on everything."
Roth's legal challenge "stinks," dairy farmer Nancy Letzring said.
"People are getting tired of it — just like in the big election," she said. "Everybody is getting a little ticked off at each other."
A total of 315 students attend kindergarten though 12th grade in the La Farge School District.
"You can see with our little thing that one vote would have made a difference," said student Robin Lee, 17. "It does show that your vote counts."
Like other teachers, Barb Sarnowski wants the referendum to pass because some of the money would be used for repairs, such as replacing roofs and removing asbestos at the school built in 1901.
Voters in La Farge — and the rest of the country — just need to remain patient, said Sarnowski, a special education teacher who graduated from La Farge High in 1971.
"The system is there. It will work. Let it take the time," she said.
Ron Johnson, a 54-year-old silversmith, debated the unsettled referendum with friends over lunch at Debbie's Diner, where the decor includes guns hanging on the walls.
Even if Roth wins one more yes vote, the school board should still scrap the election and create a building plan that can muster more taxpayer support, Johnson said.
"If you push this through, you won't get the healing," he said.
On the Net: La Farge School District: www.lafarge.k12.wi.us
Village of La Farge: www.lafarge-wisconsin.com
Wisconsin Elections Board: elections.state.wi.us