Recounts set for close Mahoning Valley races

Recounts set for close Mahoning Valley races

Every vote counts.

Just ask Lordstown Councilwoman Mary Jane Wilson.

In Tuesday’s three-person race for two village council seats, Wilson finished in last place. But her 607 votes are only two less than the votes cast for Councilman William Dray, according to unofficial results.

Wilson’s been here before.

In 2001, Wilson was in a tie for the fourth and final village council seat. It was settled by a coin toss.

Wilson called heads, but the coin landed on tails.

Elected to council two years later as the top vote-getter, Wilson finds herself in another tight race in her re-election bid.

While she trails by two votes, there are provisional and overseas votes to be counted.

After those votes are tabulated, the Trumbull County Board of Elections would have an automatic recount as long as the margin of victory remains at 0.5 of a percent or lower. State law calls for automatic recounts when the margin is at that level or lower.

Wilson-Dray isn’t the only tight race in the Mahoning Valley.

There are five other races in the area with the winner up by less than 0.5 of a percent, with six votes being the largest margin of victory.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.