While still not final, it appears incumbent Salem Community High School Board member Michael McKinzie will hold onto his seat by a six-vote margin over Elisa Hourigan now that late mail-in votes have been tallied. The final vote, which still must be confirmed by the election canvas next Tuesday, is 962 for McKinzie and 956 for Hourigan.
The two were tied on election night with just Marion County votes, but both Hourigan and successful candidate Robert Easley picked up three votes apiece in a small section of Jefferson County in the Salem High District. Hourigan’s three-vote margin was erased with 15 additional mail-in votes for McKinzie and just nine for Hourigan. Eric Bandy still ended up as the top vote getter with 1,197 votes. Marla Tolliver finished with 1,124 votes, and Robert Easley with 1,071 votes to claim the other three open seats.
The results of one other close race did not change. In Kinmundy Ward 3, Tony Wimberly gained one vote, but still lost to incumbent Amy Davis 27 to 26.
Marion County Clerk Steve Fox says an additional 80 mail-in ballots postmarked by election day but received after the April 1st date were added to the county totals on Tuesday.
