A5

The Canadian Press

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ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Kurtis Coombs hasn't given up his fight to become Canada's youngest mayor.

Four weeks after a judicial recount confirmed Ralph Wiseman as mayor of Paradise, N.L., the 19-year-old Coombs has filed a court challenge to the result.

Coombs defeated the incumbent Wiseman on Sept. 29 by three votes, only to lose the job after two tied recounts.

After the first recount, Wiseman's name was drawn from a recycling bin, declaring him the winner as the Municipal Elections Act prescribes.

But Coombs's lawyer, Eli Baker, said Monday that a second random draw should have occurred after the judicial recount confirmed a tie. One wasn't held because the returning officer decided the result of the previous draw would stand.

"The legislation, however wacky, says whenever there's a recount, the previous count is considered to not be the official (result)," Baker said after filing the petition in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.