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Tuesday, 01 December 2009 |
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — After a recount at a local board of elections Monday morning, two challenger candidates officially gained their new seats.
On Monday, the Auglaize County Board of Elections released the recount results — during which officials recounted the entire precinct by hand.
"We counted the entire precinct," Board of Elections Director Carolyn Campbell said. "That included everything — absentee, provisional and Election Day ballots."
She said the recount results were the same as the Nov. 20 provisional ballot results with Patrick McGowan leading incumbent Michael Bernard with 906 to 904 for the council-at-large seat in St. Marys and Paul Enneking leading with 729 to Randall Huelsman's 724 votes for Minster Village Council.
On the Nov. 3 Election Day, McGowan held a 895 to 894 lead in the race for the final seat on St. Marys City Council.
"I feel pretty good," McGowan said. "I now get to get started and get to work."
McGowan said he has been attending to St. Marys City Council meetings to "stay abreast" of the issues.
"I never dreamt this was going to happen when I did my petition," he said. "It makes me feel good."
McGowan also had words for those who did not obtain seats.
"It makes me feel sad for those who didn't make it, but there's always next year," he said.
As for his wait for the official results, McGowan said he did not let it bother him.
"I've been pretty calm about it," he said. "You've got to be patient, all good things come with patience."
Campbell said the Ohio state guidelines require a recount if the margin of victory is within one-half of 1 percent.
"We have to hand count one precinct," she said, adding if that amount is the same as before they can proceed as normal. "Then we rerun the memory cards for the rest of the precincts."
Campbell said she has not seen many recounts during her time with the Auglaize County Board of Elections.
"We don't have to do them too often," she said.
McGowan and Enneking will begin their terms in January 2010. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 January 2010 )
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