Cards games with deck of cards

You probably missed the mayoral election in Bradenton Beach, Florida (population 1, 482) on Tuesday. Let me tell just you this: it was close. Really, really close.

After a recount, both incumbent Mayor Jack Clarke and challenger Bill Shearon were left with exactly 195 votes out of a possible 758—a dead tie. This left Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett scratching his head.

"The state of Florida and the charter for Bradenton Beach specifies that incase of an absolute tie, this tie will be settled by drawing for lots, " Bennett told the Sarasota Herald Tribune yesterday, "but they don't define what 'lots' are."

After discussing rolling dice, flipping a coin, drawing stones, and even rock-paper-scissors, Bennett and his team decided that splitting cards was the fairest way to settle it and he drove to Walgreens to pick up a $4 playing deck.

In the final showdown, which looked like a pair of senior citizens beginning an unusually tense game of cribbage, incumbent, Mayor Clarke drew first and pulled the 10 of clubs. Unfortunately for him, Shearon pulled an ace, and in turn became the city's mayor by the luck of the draw—literally.

If any of this sounds familiar, it's because Shearon made news the first time he was elected mayor too. In part it was because he was Florida's first legally blind mayor, but it was also because he won that election by only 17 votes. In retrospect, that was a veritable landslide by Bradenton Beach stands. The May recall election was decided by just eight votes and, incase you've forgotten already, this week's election was decided by a $4 pack of playing cards!

What's interesting is that, despite it being a dead tie, there were actually 391 votes cast, but one voter, who would have had the deciding vote, sent in an absentee ballot without voting for either party. If that was you, please get in touch, you beautiful, indecisive bastard.

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