No recount in Hamilton council race; Madison schools race a 'cliffhanger'

1 vote separates school board candidates, triggering recount.

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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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