 Elected in October, his margin of victory was the closest of the 22 gubernatorial races that year, defeating UCR candidate Aníbal Reinaldo by around 15,000 votes, or 1%.The computerized tallying system failed during a recount of the close election, and Peronist officials themselves later acknowledged the possibility that Reinaldo would have prevailed by 12,000 votes.Governor Vernet's tenure was highlighted by his efforts to decentralize the provincial bureaucratic and judicial systems, establishing a network of municipal courts throughout the province.