Jeff,
I would like to make a suggestion that may sound minor, though it could be helpful.
When I have had projects entered in architectural design competitions it is standard practice to make sure that the judges have no idea who is submitting the work. That way there is no chance of any preconceived ideas or influences playing a role in selection.
Now I'm not suggesting that anything happened in the contest here, but it can't hurt to keep names and locations out of the loop. You assign numbers that only you and the contestant know until the final decisions go public.
This way the final decisions are based soley on merit without any possibility of either intentional or unintentional bias.
I would even do this in the subsequent votes. Perhaps give a listing by name of who makes each round, but never reveal their name during the actual voting.
Thanks,
Charles T. Gaushell, AIA
Paradigm Productions, LLC
www.2dimes.com