Write-in candidate wins mayor's race

June 15, 2005|by DAVE McMILLION

HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Write-in candidate Charles Mason was declared the mayor of Hedgesville on Monday night following a canvass of the June 6 election results in which eight provisional ballots were allowed.

Mason picked up five more votes from the canvass, giving him a total of 42 votes in his race against Dennis Donaldson, according to information from Terri Miskovsky, who won in a close race for town recorder.

Donaldson received two more votes in the canvass, giving him a total of 40 votes, Miskovsky said.

There were 15 provisional ballots in the election.

Provisional ballots are ones recognized by poll workers as possibly having incorrect paperwork, although people who cast them are allowed to vote.

It is the job of the canvassing board to determine if they should be allowed.

The canvassing, which was conducted at Naylor Library Monday night, did not affect the outcome of a nine-way race for five council seats, Miskovsky said.

The top five vote-getters for the five council seats were Cheryl Young (53 votes), Mary Sue Catlett (52), Nicholas Hengemihle (47), Peggy Gano (44) and Jim Poisal (41).

Gano and Poisal are incumbents.

Current mayor Mary Beth Good and current recorder Ron Good failed in their bids for town council seats. Neither could be reached for comment Tuesday.

Miskovsky won the race for recorder with 43 votes. She defeated Melanie Kimble.

Candidates in the election have 48 hours to ask for a ballot recount, Miskovsky said.

If there is no request for a recount, the election will be certified during a Hedgesville Town Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the library, Miskovsky said.

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