Incumbent Republican Ben Carver has officially been re-elected to his alderman seat for Ward 1.
Tuesday was the last day the city could receive postmarked absentee ballots, securing only one absentee vote for Ward 1 for Democratic candidate Christine Williams and bringing the final margin to 319-315 in Carver’s favor.
Carver said he is thankful to win a tight race and thrilled to represent Ward 1 for his fourth term as alderman.
“One of the reasons I think I keep getting re-elected is I am a voice of the people,” Carver said. “They know that I will try to be a voice of reason and a voice of transparency, and I want to be able to relate whatever my constituents want me to do up here in City Hall.”
Williams said she had been keeping up with the city clerk’s office over the past week and had anticipated only one absentee vote coming in. She told The Dispatch she hasn’t decided if she will challenge the results of the election.
“I’ve got to see what the next step is,” Williams said. “I’ve got to look at all of my options and see.”
This is the second straight election Williams has fallen just short to Carver. The incumbent beat her by only six votes in 2017.
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