Thursday, November 04, 1999
Some close races await walk-in, absentee counts
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Some candidates still don't know whether they won or lost in Tuesday's election.
And some in Butler and Warren counties won't know whether to plan a victory party for nearly a month.
Based on unofficial returns, with some walk-in votes and absentee ballots yet to be counted, two Butler County races appear headed for an automatic recount. A third could tip that way with just a few votes.
In Warren County, recounts might occur in several races.
In the Hamilton City Council race, Sharon Hughes, an incumbent, beat Archie Johnson by eight votes for the seventh and final seat. In the Oxford council race for three seats, Jerome Conley came in
third, edging Ennis Miller by 22 votes.
Mr. Johnson said he was delighted with his first showing in a council race, and pleased that more than 4,000 voters put their confidence in him.
“It may not happen this time, but if I don't get on the board, I surely intend to run again,” Mr. Johnson said. “And I look forward to working with the council that's elected, as I've done in the past.”
In the Middletown City Commission race, where eight candidates vied for three seats, incumbent Earl Smith placed third, with only 39 more votes than Anthony Marconi. But an automatic recount could result if Mr. Marconi picks up about 10 votes and Mr. Smith gains none from walk-ins and absentees.
Mr. Marconi could not be reached for comment. But Mr. Smith, who is finishing his first four-year commission term, said he hopes he will be declared the winner without a recount.
“I'm surprised it was this close,” Mr. Smith said. “I just want to get on with taking care of city business.”
In Warren County, South Lebanon Mayor James D. Smith edged challenger Glenn Holloway by four votes, according to the unofficial results. In Lebanon, five votes returned Jim Reinhard to council over his brother-in-law, John McComb.
Other possible recounts include the race for the second seat on Harveysburg's Village Council between Perry Shepard and Richard Duvelius; the third seat on the Lebanon City School Board between Paul Brewer and Walter R. Davis; the second seat on Springboro Community School Board between Steve Houston and Anne Muncie; and on the issue of the Sunday sale of liquor in Hamilton Township's northwest precinct.
Bob Mosketti, director of the Butler County Board of Elections, said it could take until about Nov. 22 to finish counting walk-in and absentee votes to determine an official tally and certify the vote.
After that, an automatic recount is triggered if the official count indicates that the winning margin is equal to or less than one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast, according to the Ohio secretary of state's office.
When the vote is certified, candidates in automatic recounts will be notified as soon as possible, and the recount will be scheduled within about five days, Mr. Mosketti said.
Other candidates may call for recounts in any election, but they must pay $10 per precinct for the recount. The request must be submitted in writing within five days of the official certification of results.
Richelle Thompson contributed to this report.
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