Gap In Race Still 120 Votes

DAYTON - After a nar- row margin of votes between candidates for the Columbia County Commissioner District 1 Seat Two in the first count of the General Election, Mike Talbott main- tained the victory over Tom Bensel by 120 votes in the first recount on Friday, Nov. 9.

On the first count Tues- day, Nov. 6, Talbott received 1,029 votes, or 52.45 per- cent of the submitted votes. Bensel received 912 votes, or 46.48 percent.

On a second count Nov. 9, more ballots were counted and Talbott received 1,114 votes, 53.07 percent of the votes. Bensel received 985 votes, 46.93 percent.

Talbott will begin his term as a commissioner on Jan. 1, replacing current position 2 commissioner Dick Jones who is retiring.

Talbott said he will start training on Dec. 1 and he feels confident with the elec- tion results despite the close margin.

"I've been going to the county commissioners meetings and trying to keep up on all of the different aspects of the county," Talbott said.

Bensel said he knew the election was going to be close but that people voiced their choice.

"We gave a good fight, I think we put our message out there," Bensel said. "I wish (Talbott) the best for his term in office."

Of the 2,661 voters reg- istered in Columbia County, 2,275, or 85.5 percent, turned in their ballots. Of those vot- ers, 2,099 votes were submit- ted for the close county commissioner seat race.

There are 30 ballots left to count and the next count by Columbia County will be on Nov. 27 when the election will be certified.