Coin toss determines winner in tied race for Mecca Township trustee

Staff report

WARREN

Fritz Birkhimer is the winner of the race for Mecca Township trustee after a coin toss Monday at the Trumbull County Board of Elections meeting. A coin toss was necessary because he and Tim Francis were tied at 285 votes each after all votes had been counted.

Birkhimer will take office unless an automatic set for 9:30 a.m. next Tuesday changes the vote totals.

If history is a guide, Birkimer is likely to remain the winner. No recount in recent years has resulted in a change in the vote totals or outcome of any race, elections officials said.

Francis had a one-vote lead – 282 votes to Birkhimer’s 281 – on election night, but they tied at 285 after provisional votes were added.

Provisional votes are cast by those whose voter eligibility is in question, such as those failing to provide proper identification, or those who fail to provide a change of address or name to the election board.

The board has to verify the eligibility of each provisional ballot before it can be counted.

Francis was appointed June 24 to fill an unexpired term as township trustee. The term expires at the end of 2017.

No other race or measure in the Trumbull County Nov. 3 general election was close enough to qualify for a recount. And the elections board certified the results of every other measure on the ballot.