LUMBERTON — Candidates in three Robeson County races are eligible to request a recount after votes were canvassed on Tuesday, although one of those races could still be changed by voter challenges.
The race between incumbent Leon Maynor and challenger Laura Sampson to represent Precinct 7 on the Lumberton City Council won’t be certified until at least Friday, when the Robeson County Board of Elections plans to hear 16 challenges, mostly dealing with voters’ residencies.
A recount can be requested if the vote margin between candidates is within 1 percent of the total votes cast in the race.
Although both candidates picked up votes when provisional ballots were counted, Maynor maintains his one-vote lead over Sampson in her third bid to take the council seat. The councilman now has 284 votes to Sampson’s 283. With 570 votes cast in that race, including three for write-ins, a recount can be requested.
Sampson said on election night that she would “definitely” be requesting a recount, although Friday’s hearings could change the vote margin.
Longtime St. Pauls Mayor Gordon Westbrook can also ask for a recount. Westbrook picked up an additional provisional vote, but still remains two votes behind Commissioner Jerry Weindel in the race for the mayor’s seat. Westbrook holds 163 votes to Weindel’s 165. In total, 330 votes were cast in that race.
Westbrook could not be reached for comment.
Red Springs Commissioner David Shook would be eligible to request a recount, although he says he has no plans to do so.
Shook was the fourth highest vote-getter in the race for three seats on the Red Springs board and was just one vote behind the third highest vote-getter, challenger Shearlie McBryde. After canvassing, Shook has 256 votes and McBryde has 260.
In races where voters select more than one candidate on their ballots, a recount can be requested when the margin between the candidate and the prevailing candidate is less than 1 percent.
Shook said the residents of Red Springs have spoken and he won’t challenge that.
“That’s what elections are for,” he said.
Shook said he is happy with the votes he received and the years he served on the board and did not rule out a future bid for election.
“If I feel I can help and serve the city, I might consider that,” he said.
The results of all the municipal races were made official Tuesday, with the exception of the Lumberton Precinct 7 race. Elections officials plan to hold the challenge hearings beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday. Officials will also hold a hearing on a protest in the Parkton Board of Alderman race, in which Doris Underwood, an incumbent who was re-elected Nov. 3, is being accused of not living in town limits.
