(Posted Nov. 23, 2021)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Following a recount, Gregory S. Eades has won a seat on London city council by one vote.
Three at-large city council seats were up for election in the Nov. 2 general election. Five candidates ran for those seats–Eades, Brenda Russell, Joshua Peters, John J. Stahl, and Carla S. Blazier. After polls closed on election night, Peters and Stahl were clear winners of two of the three seats, according to unofficial results from the Madison County Board of Elections. Russell and Eades were separated by just two votes–Russell received 742 votes; Eades received 740 votes. Blazier received 80 votes.
The Board of Elections held the official canvas of the votes on Nov. 15 at which time provisional ballots and outstanding absentee ballots were counted and included in the tallies. The final totals showed Russell with 755 votes and Eades with 756 votes.
When the difference between votes is equal to or less than 0.5 percent, Ohio law stipulates that an automatic recount take place. The Board of Elections conducted that recount on Nov. 22. The recount showed Eades with 755 votes and Russell with 754 votes, thereby making Eades the winner of the third at-large council seat.
Both Eades and Russell ran as Independents. Peters and Stahl are Republicans. Blazier ran as a write-in.
