UPDATE: THE VANCE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS ADVISES THAT IT PLANS TO REVIEW THE 10 PROVISIONAL BALLOTS THIS AFTERNOON (THURSDAY) AROUND OR SHORTLY AFTER 4:00 P.M. AS SOON AS THE REVIEW RESULTS ARE AVAILABLE, WIZS NEWS WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER UPDATE.
(Unofficial Results, subject to provisional ballots and canvass by The Vance County Board of Elections)
The Henderson Nonpartisan City Elections were close. In fact, three of the four contested races are too close to call. One recount and one run off are certain, and a second run off for the Mayoral position is a possibility.
Ten provisional ballots, which will now be subject to scrutiny by The Vance County Board of Elections, are enough ballots to reverse the projected winner for the Alderman 1st Ward Ward Seat contest between Marion Brodie Williams and Clarence J. Dale as well as enough votes to force a run-off election for mayor.
Eddie Ellington is the projected winner for mayor. He received 1,152 votes or 50.13% of the votes cast. Jim Kearney received 740 votes or 32.20% of the votes. Juanita Somerville earned 406 votes or 17.67 percent. Ellington received more than 50 percent plus one vote, so a runoff is not an option for Kearney at this time. But, the 10 provisional ballots may change those percentages, which could then result in a runoff.
For the Alderman 1st Ward Ward Seat, there was just one vote of difference in the final tally. Williams received 233 votes or exactly 50% of the votes cast. Dale earned 232 votes, or 49.79%. There was one write-in vote. It is clear to see that the 10 provisional ballots could easily change the projected winner. If that one write-in vote were to happen to be for Dale, then each candidate will have received exactly the same number of votes. No matter what, in a two-person race where there is less than one percent of separation, the second-place candidate can ask for a recount. That request for a recount must be received by The Vance County Board of Elections, in writing from the candidate, no later than November 14th at 5:00 P.M.
For the Alderman 3rd Ward At Large Seat, there will be a run off between Melissa Elliott and Brenda Peace. Peace told WIZS News as a part of our live election coverage that she was 99.99 percent sure she would ask for a run off. Elliott received 1,034 votes or 47.37%, while Peace earned 1,025 votes or 46.95%. Elliott did not get 50 percent of the votes plus one vote, therefore a runoff is in the making. With a separation of nine votes, it is unlikely that the 10 provisional ballots would have an impact. If Peace does in fact ask for a runoff, she must do so in writing to the Vance County Board of Elections by November 15th at 12:00 P.M.
All the numbers are in the chart below, which clearly shows that incumbent George M. Daye defeated Blakely Bates for Alderman 4th Ward At Large Seat. Daye’s 1,333 votes or 66.82% are clearly enough to declare him the victor when compared to the 645 votes, or 32.33%, attained by Bates.
Mike Rainey ran unopposed for Alderman 2nd Ward Ward seat. He earned 777 votes, while there were seven names written in for the position.
Voter turn out was 23.13 percent. Of the 9,978 registered voters, 2,308 ballots were cast.
Our WIZS live election coverage on 1450AM and on wizs.com included live comments from Ellington, Somerville, Peace, Bates, Dale and Rainey. Kearney spoke with WIZS reported Kevin Bullock but chose to hold his public comments until later.
Our thanks to The Vance County Board of Elections for allowing us to broadcast from their location and to all their staff and volunteers. Special thanks to Faye Gill and Kevin Kilgore.