Recount requested by challenger
Debra "Hank" Dinschel
Robbinsville – Yogi Berra once quipped, "It ain't over till it's over."
Both Debra "Hank" Dinschel – a Republican – and Maria Shook (D) collectively held their breath as the Graham County Board of Elections presented 15 different ballots at Nov. 17's provisional meeting. The two went into the evening tied 1,434-1,434 for the second seat that was up for grabs on the Graham County Board of Education, after Democrat Shane Garland received the lowest number of votes in Nov. 7's election, pulling in 1,296.
Of the 15 provisionals, just six counted. The reasons for "spoiling" a ballot – deeming it inadmissible as legal votes – ranged from residents failing to move their registration after re-locating to Graham County, to believing they were registered when renewing their driver's license, only to discover they were not.
In the end, Dinschel picked up a pair of votes from the East and West wards; Shook had just one extra vote, from Stecoah. Dinschel's 1,436-1,435 win over Shook was certified – as were votes in all races on the midterm ballot – at 11 a.m. Friday during canvassing.
But The Graham Star learned shortly after the canvassing meeting that Shook had requested a recount.
Now, the board of elections will be tasked with feeding all ballots received through machines once again, to ensure no errors occurred while the tabulators read the votes originally. The recount will take place at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28 and The Graham Star will live-stream the evening on its Facebook page.
Incumbent Clark "Chip" Carringer easily won re-election by securing 36.24 percent of the votes cast and will continue his service as vice chair of the board of education with 2,368 nods of approval. Results for other local, contested races are as follows:
* Graham County Board of Commissioners: Jacob Nelms (2,188 votes); Natasha Williams (2,099); Lynn Cody (1,959); Jeff Millsaps (1,077); Kent Williams (882); Harvey Bollinger (787); Scott Hooper (714).
* Graham County Sheriff: Brad Hoxit (2,429); Russell Moody (1,110).