Recounts show no change in election winners

The recounts were automatic because of the close margin of victory.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Recounts for Austintown Township trustee and Springfield and Western Reserve school boards didn't change the outcomes in those three close races.
The Mahoning County Board of Elections held the three recounts Thursday as required by state law when the margin of victory in a race is 0.5 percent or less.
Votes cast during the Nov. 8 general election on the county's touch-screen electronic machines were recounted Thursday on those machines. The count was done after board officials and employees tested the accuracy of the machines by casting votes in a mock election and determined the machines read the vote totals correctly.
Election officials and employees hand-counted paper ballots used by absentee voters . Candidates were permitted to watch the hand counts.
After the recounts, the board voted to accept the results and declare winners in the three races.
The winners
In Austintown, incumbent Trustee Warren Bo Pritchard picked up three votes on the hand count. The final result was 4,818 votes for Pritchard and 4,794 votes for Sam Swogger III.
"This is the longest election I've ever been in," Pritchard said. "The results were certified one month from the date of the election. I'm glad it's over."
In the Springfield school board race, Joe Mersol held on to his lead over incumbent Jim Heaven. Mersol's final vote total was 1,186 compared with 1,180 for Heaven.
"It's been a little tough for me because everyone asks all the time, 'Did you win?'" Mersol said. "I would say, 'No, I didn't win. It's not over.' I'm glad it's finally over."
A 12-year board member, Heaven said he doesn't plan to run for elected office again.
The recount also held up Frank Marra's victory for a seat on the Western Reserve school board. Marra had 792 votes compared with 788 for Tamara R. Prater.
"The hand count took a little extra time, but we want the process to be open and for there to be no questions about the results," said Thomas McCabe, elections board director.
Clerk hired
Also Thursday, the board hired Ann Simms of Youngstown as a clerk with an annual salary of $29,900. Simms, who's worked on state Rep. Sylvester D. Patton's campaigns, spent two weeks at the elections board on a part-time basis before being hired full-time, said Deputy Director Joyce Kale-Pesta.
When a Democratic elections board clerk position is vacant, the county Democratic chairman selects a replacement, and the board traditionally appoints that person.
There were two Democratic vacancies: Kale-Pesta was recently promoted to deputy director, and Anthony Saadey left on disability retirement.
Because of the county's financial problems, the board is keeping the other Democratic position at the office vacant for the foreseeable future, said Mark Munroe, the board's vice chairman.
skolnick@vindy.com