Knupp
SIDNEY — The question of the day was: Will there or won’t there be a recount for the Jan. 2, 2025, term of office for Shelby County Commissioner? And the answer is “No.” The recount has been canceled, however an audit of the March 19 election will go ahead Thursday, April 4.
The race between winner Mack Knupp and John Adams was separated by a mere 19 votes. A recount was planned for April 4.
However, Adams sent a letter to the Shelby County Board of Elections requesting the recount not be done.
“As candidate for county commissioner on the March 19, 2024, ballot I am requesting that the automatic recount not be conducted. I do not see spending the resources after the official certification last Tuesday. I therefore, am waiving the recount,” Adams wrote.
When contacted, Shelby County Board of Elections Director Pam Kerrigan said, “The board and staff agree that the recount should be canceled due to a candidate for Commissioner and a Democrat Central Committee candidate having notified the Board of Elections Office that they do not want to proceed with the recount.
“However, the Board must meet to approve this request, so the first order of business on Thursday will be to approve the request to cancel the recount. Additionally, the Secretary of State’s Office requires the Board of Election Office to hold either the recount or an audit so the second order of business Thursday morning will be to hold the audit of the March Primary 2024 election. The public is still welcome to attend the meeting starting at 9:00 a.m. but the plan is to approve the request to stop the recount and move right into the audit,” said Kerrigan.
During the certification of the March 10 vote, Knupp was declared the winner of the race with 2,608 votes while Adams received 2,589. Philip Barhorst received 2,464 votes.
A recount is required when the difference of the final result is less than 0.5% — one half of 1% — according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.
