Election results not yet certified, Thrower mulling recount
Published 11:00 am Thursday, November 9, 2017
- Milledgeville Mayor Gary Thrower looks on with family Tuesday night from the Baldwin County Courthouse as election results come in. Thrower says he has not made a decision on asking for a recount following Tuesday’s defeat.
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Mayoral incumbent Gary Thrower is still mulling a decision on whether to pursue a recount following an Election Day defeat from challenger and political newcomer Mary Parham-Copelan.
While results remain unofficial until certified by Baldwin County Superintendent of Elections Todd Blackwell, Parham-Copelan defeated Thrower by a mere six votes to become the winner of Tuesday’s mayoral race.
“I’m still pursuing options, but I haven’t made a decision yet,” said Thrower when reached for comment Wednesday afternoon. “I’m waiting on some additional advice before I move forward with anything. I’ve been working very hard to try to make some progress in this community, and I think we’ve made some strides and will continue to change attitudes and perceptions. It’s just a gut-shot that enough folks didn’t feel that we were headed in the right direction, and I’ll be interested to see in what direction they want to go.”
Unofficial election results reveal that Parham-Copelan received 833 votes to Thrower’s 827 votes.
Tuesday’s results excluded a single provisional ballot from a resident whose information was not correct in the voter rolls.
Blackwell said Tuesday night that Thrower needed to be within a 1 percent margin in order to ask for a recount.
Baldwin County Probate Court Judge Todd Blackwell spent Wednesday certifying the results of the mayoral race, an effort that stretched until after presstime Wednesday.
If the results stand, Parham-Copelan becomes the first woman to win a local mayoral election.
“I want to help make Milledgeville the best city in Georgia, and want to serve all of the residents of this great city,” Parham-Copelan said Tuesday night.
Thrower has two days to request a recount if the totals are indeed found to be within 1 percent.
Whoever fills the mayor’s seat come January will have a City Council that remains intact after the lone challenged race, District 5, saw incumbent Richard Mullins defeat challenger Harry Keim by 254 votes to 101. No other members of council faced opposition this election year.
