Robinson wins Yuma, state recounts

Johnnie Robinson came out on top in Yuma County's recount of the Congressional District 4 U.S. Representative primary election — just as he did statewide.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors canvassed the results of the court-ordered recount between Robinson and Mikel Weisser, the Democratic candidates in the race, at its meeting Monday.

The Aug. 28 primary was so close that a recount was ordered in Yuma along with Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai counties. In Yuma County, Robinson led Weisser by a relatively comfortable margin, with 1,068 votes to 870. His state victory was much narrower: 10,183 votes to 10,164. Robinson will face incumbent Rep. Paul Gosar (R) in November.

Other approvals from the supervisors:

• The transfer of irrigation water rights to about 13 acres along Highway 95 from Yuma County to the city of Yuma.

The county says it does not use or need the water rights on several parcels of land from County 14th Street north to city limits, so the county has been working with the Yuma County Water Users Association for the past year to convert 27 parcels of water rights to the city.

• Acceptance of a $918,605 grant from the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office for the border security initiative Operation Stonegarden. The award includes $200,000 for overtime and $718,605 for radio and computer equipment.

• The addition of a full-time security officer at the county justice center.

Security officers assist in the courtrooms, with screenings and in other areas at the justice center. However, the county says any type of leave — like sick leave, training or annual time off — often results in overtime to cover the absence.

To place an additional officer in the justice center means removing the security officer from the Adult Probation Office. (The probation officers are armed.)

The security officer's position must be sustained by the probation fee fund long term.