Independent challenger Keith Gaskin leads Democratic incumbent Robert Smith by 66 votes in the Columbus mayoral race after election day and absentee votes were tallied Tuesday night.
Gaskin garnered 2,862 votes to Smith’s 2,796. Independent Montrell Coburn earned 67 votes. There are 158 affidavits still to process Wednesday in that race, meaning it remains too close to call.
Gaskin beat Smith by 430 in votes cast on election day. However, Smith bested Gaskin by a 613 to 249 margin in absentees.
In council races, Democrat Ethel Taylor Stewart won another term as Ward 1 councilwoman, defeating independent challenger Kallie Phillips by a 773 to 140 margin with affidavits still to process. Republican Rusty Greene appears to have won the Ward 3 seat, earning 747 votes to Democrat Sally Brown Tate’s 550 and independent Kori Bridges’ 50. Greene will replace the retiring Charlie Box on the council.
Independent Pierre Beard leads 417 to 390 over Democrat Marty Turner with affidavits still out.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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