ODDLY ENOUGH
ODDLY ENOUGH
Tied Ohio’s mayoral election: It’ll be the draw of the cards
NEWARK, Ohio
A central Ohio community’s mayoral race could be decided by a drawing from a deck of cards if the tie between two candidates holds during a recount set for this week.
Chad Waters was declared the winner of the Hanover mayoral race last week when he drew a nine of diamonds from the deck to beat the five of spades pulled by Nicole Gieseler, The Advocate newspaper in Newark reported.
The county’s official tally after the general election had the two tied with 104 votes apiece once provisional and absentee ballots were counted. A winner has to be declared before a recount under state law, said Sue Penick, director of the Licking County Board of Elections.
Officials opted for the card drawing instead of a coin toss, the other option permitted by law.
“We felt that was the most fair way,” said Mary Ann Lollo, who leads the board.
Gieseler said she doesn’t plan to withdraw before the recount and believes Waters will do a good job if the position becomes his.
“I’m at total peace with the decision,” said Gieseler, a preschool teacher.
Waters, who runs a golf store in Heath, said he’ll seek to consult his opponents if his first bid for public office turns out to be successful. But, he said, he’s awaiting the recount first.
‘Duck Dynasty’ inspires Pa. church to go ‘camo’
BRADFORD, Pa.
A northwestern Pennsylvania pastor inspired by the popular reality-TV series “Duck Dynasty” encouraged his congregation to come to church in camouflage clothing Sunday.
The Rev. Chris Terbush told the Bradford Era he is hoping to attract new members to The First Wesleyan Church of Bradford, and to celebrate the state’s outdoors heritage before deer-hunting season opens today.
“Ultimately, the major goal is to draw new parishioners,” Terbush said. “I thought it’d be neat if nothing else to show the community who we are.”
“Duck Dynasty” chronicles a family known for their long beards and camouflage clothing that has made a fortune making and selling duck decoys to hunters.
The 30-year-old pastor and outdoor enthusiast is a native of Indiana and a life-long hunter. He planned to dress in his hunting clothes, as the evangelical Protestant denomination doesn’t require that he wear a clerical collar or other garb to preside at church services.
“There are a lot of hunters in our congregation,” Terbush said. “I know we live in a hunting community, and we’re open to all people.”
The church is about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Associated Press