By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - The vote on whether to expand the Deerfield Township Board of Trustees to five edged closer in Tuesday's final, official count, but not close enough to change the outcome.

All told, 3,659 votes were cast for a five-trustee board, but 3,754 voters favored keeping the three-trustee structure that's the standard statewide, according to the results posted by the Warren County Board of Elections on Tuesday. Percentage-wise, that comes to 50.64 percent in favor of a three-person board and 49.36 percent favoring an expanded board.

A proposed charter change in Franklin is the only issue that qualified for an automatic recount by having a final tally within half of 1 percent, Executive Director Bev Moore said. The issue, which changes zoning procedures, passed by four votes - 973 to 969. The recount will be held Dec. 3 by putting ballots through the automatic reader again, Ms. Moore said, as well as counting some precincts by hand.

In comparison, Ms. Moore said, the Deerfield initiative's 95-vote difference wasn't close. Still, Friends for Five - the group that gathered petitions to put the initiative on the ballot - could have a recount if it wants to pay for it.

Recounts must be requested by Monday, Ms. Moore said.

Friends for Five members Roger Dick and Lee Speidel said Tuesday that the group hadn't yet decided whether to ask for a recount, try to pass the initiative again at another election or let the matter drop.

Initiative supporters said the population would be better served by a larger board.

Deerfield trustees opposed the measure, however, saying it would cost taxpayers $50,000 a year with no guarantee of better representation.

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com