With counting essentially complete, James Goble appears to have won the City Council’s two-year term by a single vote, edging out incumbent Bruce Hobbs, 926 votes to 925 votes.
The two had appeared tied for fourth place with 916 votes each since late election night, held on Nov. 4.
Linn County today (Wednesday, Nov. 19) counted votes from ballots with challenged signatures and from ballots that arrived from other counties. Hobbs picked up nine votes, and Goble picked up 10.
Finishing first is incumbent Greg Mahler with 1,303 votes. In second was Ryan J. Underwood with 1,156 votes. In third was Jeffrey D. Goodwin with 938 votes. The top three finishers serve four-year terms. The fourth-place finisher serves a two-year term.
Linn County Clerk Steve Druckenmiller said that the election falls within the one-fifth of 1 percent trigger for a recount.
“This is the final unofficial,” Druckenmiller said. “We haven’t certified yet.”
The county is still processing write-in votes, but he expects to certify the election tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 20).
Druckenmiller will schedule a recount following certification.
He considers it unlikely for the numbers to change any further.