CLARKSBURG -- With only a handful of votes separating second, third and fourth places in the Clarksburg City Council election, many await the canvassing planned Monday.
The vote canvass of Tuesday's election results will be held during a special City Council meeting at 1 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers.
Dan Thompson received the most votes with 1,118.
Only 18 votes separate the next three candidates. They are: Jo Anne McNemar, 909; incumbent Margaret Ann Bailey, 896; and incumbent Tom Flynn, 891.
Only the top three candidates are elected.
Louis J. Iquinto is in fifth place with 817, followed by David D.A. Kates at 796; Frankie Bellotte, 612; Bernard J. Folio, 500; Tony Olivito, 144; and Charles (Chero) Howard, 129.
Although no one knows how many contested votes there are, most agree there is enough to impact second through fourth place.
City Clerk Annette Wright said that during the special meeting, council members will approve which challenged ballots can be counted with advice from the city clerk and city attorney, according to law.
Those accepted will be taken to the county clerk's office to be validated and placed in the counting machine to be counted, Wright said.
There must be a quorum of four council members to conduct the canvass. If not, the canvass would be postponed, said Bailey.
"Hopefully it won't take long. It should determine the outcome of the election," Bailey said. "It's a wait and see process."
Tom Flynn said he hopes that he can pick up six votes.
"Bailey and McNemar have that same possibility," Flynn said. "Naturally, I hope I can still come out a winner in this election. I worked pretty hard and felt that I should have done better."
McNemar was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Staff writer Darlene J. Taylor can be reached at 626-1403 or by e-mail at dtaylor@exponent-telegram.com.
