Clayton — Town Council candidate Butch Lawter said he plans to protest election results. After counting provisional ballots Tuesday morning, the Johnston County Board of Elections office reported the original results stand: incumbent Alex Harding and newcomer Art Holder were the top two vote-getters for two Clayton Town Council seats. Harding got 527 votes, Holder won 515 and Lawter received 513. About 15 to 20 voters at the Clayton Middle School precinct received town election ballots when they should have received tax ballots only, said Leigh Anne Price, elections supervisor for Johnston County. The state Board of Elections will determine if another election will take place, she said. A public meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Nov. 20 at the local BOE office in Smithfield.
Good for Butch Lawter. The difference is only 2 votes and "About 15 to 20 voters at the Clayton Middle School precinct received town election ballots when they should have received tax ballots only" How can the Johnston County Board of Elections ignore this fact? I assume the State Board of Elections agreed with this decision because they took a week to consult with the state board. This decision does not seem fair.
More from WMPM: New Election Possible In Controversial Council Race - The Johnston County Board of Elections met Tuesday to certify the November 6 election results. Officials also gave the five candidates running for two Clayton Town Council seats until 5pm Thursday to file a protest. Workers are so confidant a protest will be filed they have already scheduled to meet on Tuesday, November 20 at 9am to discuss the situation. A close municipal election only became closer Tuesday when nearly four-dozen provisional ballots were added into the total. Incumbent Alex Harding’s first place win over Art Holder shrunk from a 13-vote to 11-vote margin (527 to 516). Holder maintains his second place win by just 3 votes over Incumbent R.S. “Butch” Lawter Jr. (516 to 513) It had previously been a 4-vote margin of victory until the provision ballots were included. Alexander Atchinson finished fourth with 457 votes and Michael Starks with 124. Adding to the close race, where only 14 votes separate first to third place, is the controversy over 15 to 20 ballots mistakenly given to the first voters who showed up at the West Clayton 2 precinct on Election Day. Voters who lived out of town were mistakenly given ballots allowing them to vote in the town race. Johnston County Elections Director Leigh Ann Price said the candidates could ask for a recount or they could ask for a new municipal race. The decision will be up to the elections board. The Clayton mayor’s race will not be affected. Incumbent Mayor Jody McLeod defeated Corwyn Sergent with 86 percent of the vote total. Other municipal races in Johnston County were certified Tuesday without any changes.
