Coin flip decides Norwalk council seat

NORWALK — The Huron County Board of Elections officially certified the results of the Nov. 4 general election results Monday morning. It confirms outcomes and issues while also triggering three automatic recounts and conducting a rare coin flip to break a tie for a Norwalk city council seat. According to county elections board director Cecilia Blevins, the certification revealed a dead-even result between Jordan Duncan and Kelly Smith for the fourth Norwalk city council at-large seat, with each candidate receiving 1,226 votes. Both candidates attended the certification meeting, where state law required the tie be decided by lot. Kelly Smith won the seat when the coin flip landed in her favor. The certified results show Kelly Smith, Stephen Euton, Joseph Lindenberger and Samantha Wilhelm as the winners in the city council race. But the race still qualifies for an automatic recount, and despite the coin flip determining Kelly Smith as a provisional winner, that recount will determine whether or not she's won the race. The recount is scheduled for 7 a.m. on Dec. 2. Other races need recounts A second recount was ordered in the South Central Local Schools Board of Education full-term race, where just two votes separate candidates David Cornish and Sara Englet. Because the district overlaps into Richland County, combined totals show Cornish ahead by two votes, with the second available seat going to Sara Smith, according to the board. That thin margin requires an automatic recount under state law. The third recount will involve the North Fairfield Village current expenses levy, which passed by just one vote, another result close enough to trigger a mandatory hand-check. Countywide audit to follow Blevins confirmed that following the recounts, the board will conduct the county's required post-election audit, which must hand-count 5% of all ballots cast. The Huron County Mental Health and Addiction Services levy will serve as the audit component once the three recounts conclude, according to the board. "All recounts will be held on Dec. 2 at 7 a.m.," Blevins said, noting that these are the only races and issues meeting the threshold for recount action this cycle. 'Every vote' matters Blevins emphasized the significance of turnout and civic participation, particularly in local-year contests. "In this hometown election, every vote matters and this is proof that the odd-year elections are as important as the even-year elections," she said. "Every vote does matter." The board of elections will release certified recount results following completion of the Dec. 2 reviews and the subsequent audit. Election results Note: The following races have triggered an automatic recount, which will be conducted on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Norwalk city council — Vote for 4 • Samantha Wilhelm: 1,456 • Joseph Lindenberger: 1,398 • Stephen Euton: 1,292 • Kelly Smith: 1,226 (won seat by coin flip, pending automatic recount) • Jordan Duncan: 1,226 South Central Board of Education — Vote for 2 • Sara Smith: 577 • David Cornish: 319 • Sara Englet: 317 • Bryan J. Hamman: 296 North Fairfield Village current expenses renewal levy • For: 45 • Against: 44 Note: According to certified election results. Source: Huron County Board of Elections