Mahoning Valley | Boards to certify results of area elections

Staff report

Valley boards of election will convene today to certify election results, though few contests remain in question after the Nov. 6 vote.

Columbiana County elections director Adam Booth expects only one recount to occur based on the general election — that one in a gasoline station liquor- option matter, where the station won by just two votes in preliminary and unofficial results.

The Glenmoor Marathon station in St. Clair Township near East Liverpool won by 148 to 146 votes on a question concerning whether to allow the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages.

In Trumbull County, one levy from the election is likely to be close enough to qualify for an automatic recount — the 1-mill additional Hartford Township fire levy. Complete-but- unofficial results show the levy passing 564 to 559.

In Youngstown, Mahoning County elections director Joyce Kale-Pesta said she does not expect any Mahoning County races are close enough for an automatic recount.

Although it was close, preliminary results indicate that a state legislative race in Columbiana County wasn’t close enough for an automatic recount, said Booth.

In the Columbiana County contest between Democrat Nick Barborak and Republican incumbent Craig E. Newbold for the 5th Ohio House of Representatives seat, Barborak’s preliminary and unofficial margin of victory was 22,064 to 21,681.

That legislative district includes all of Columbiana County, but it does not spill over into any other counties.

Under state law, a recount is automatic if the margin of victory is less than half of 1 percent of the votes cast in that race. In the legislative race, the automatic recount margin would have been 219 or fewer votes. Barborak won unofficially by 383 votes.

The Mahoning County Board of Elections will meet at 8 a.m. today to certify the election results, while the Trumbull County Board of Elections will meet at 3:30 p.m. today and the Columbiana County Board of Elections will do so at 5 p.m. today.

No recounts can be ordered until after the board certifies the results, Booth said.