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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer 12:55 AM Wednesday, November 18, 2009

HAMILTON — After provisional and absentee ballots were counted, Z. Ann Rowe gained more votes in the City Council race than her nearest opponent and has secured the fourth position, according to the Butler County Board of Elections.

On Monday, Nov. 16, elections officials included 260 provisional and 21 absentee ballots in the final, unofficial results for races in the city of Hamilton.

The results indicate that an automatic recount will not be necessary to confirm Tim Naab as the third highest vote-getter, said Betty McGary, county elections director.

After the additional ballots were counted, Naab received 51 more votes; Rowe picked up 92 votes; and Phil Morrical Jr. gained 68 votes, elections officials reported.

The elections board will meet at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, to certify election results.

As the fourth highest vote-getter, while not winning a seat on City Council, Rowe could be a leading candidate to be appointed to fill the two remaining years of Mayor-elect Pat Moeller’s term.

In the past, council members have appointed the next highest vote-getter to fill a vacant seat, although it is not a requirement.

Moeller and Councilwoman Carla Fiehrer have both said that City Council has free rein when it comes to selecting a candidate to fill the seat.

Although no recount is needed in Hamilton, the updated results created “a real cliffhanger” in the Madison Local School District, McGary said.

With more than 2,000 votes cast, only one vote separates Pete Robinson and Angela Whiteman. Robinson has 1,059 votes, or 49.98 percent, and Whiteman has 1,060 votes, or 50.02 percent.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.

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The next person in line should absolutely not be appointed. Just because you run doesn't mean you should get in.

willie
1:32 PM, 11/18/2009

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Once again, this goes to show you that EVERY vote counts! We all have our civic responsibility to vote in all elections brought forth to the voting public. This is how the representative government (also know as the Republic) works in our United States of America.

Thomas D. Porter
11:36 AM, 11/18/2009

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I think the 4th person should automatically fill the empty spot. Why do they(Moeller and Fiehrer) have free reign on selecting that spot. The peolpe have voted for this candidate. Rowe should feel the empty seat she is next in line! This is what is wrong with our city.

furiated
10:44 AM, 11/18/2009

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I completely agree. An election is only a snapshot of that particular moment. Any election held today or in the future must account for the fact that new candidates may appear, new issues discovered, more or less people turning out ot vote, etc. It would be horrible if somebody was automatically appointed in the future because of receiving fourth place in the past. I do not think that method will serve the public's best interests.

donna
9:41 AM, 11/18/2009

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Rowe should not be automatically appointed in the future due to having a fourth spot. After you find out more about a person and as the economy and other factors change, so does a voter's life, situation, and opinion of the candidates.

Please do not automatically appoint a fourth place candidate to a future position just because on a given election, they received a percentage of votes. Understand that when it comes time to appoint, our opinions and the city can and probably will change.

Gary
1:39 AM, 11/18/2009

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