Allen keeps seat by 3 votes
By Ty Johnson
Published in News on July 24, 2012 1:46 PM
Full Size
Chuck Allen
It wasn't official, but Mayor Pro Tempore Chuck Allen said he would sleep a little more soundly Monday night after he overheard he had survived a recount in the race for the District 5 Goldsboro City Council seat.
After receiving 13 votes more than write-in ballots cast, a recount revealed the vote was even tighter Monday morning with Allen receiving two votes more than write-in challenger Jerome Tew.
The mood was tense at the Wayne County Board of Elections office where Allen stood and watched as ballots were handcounted in his race to keep the office he has held since 1999.
Tew, the man who gave the incumbent a scare on election night, was there, too, as was Bob Jackson, the chairman of the Wayne County Republican Party.
Jackson and the GOP had sponsored Tew's late write-in campaign to unseat Allen in the nonpartisan race, but came up shy in the recount.
Provisional ballots, which also were counted Monday, stretched Allen's lead by one vote, but none of the results were considered official until the canvass Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Follow the News-Argus in print and online for the official results from the canvass.