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Paperwork filed for Hancock commissioner recount

NEW CUMBERLAND — Chester-based businessman Tommy Ogden has filed the paperwork with the board of elections for a recount of the votes for the Hancock County Commission race after Tuesday’s canvass showed the Republican challenger losing to incumbent Commissioner Jeff Davis by 10 votes.

Ogden’s request comes following Tuesday’s canvass, which showed that Davis, running as a Democrat for his fourth six-year term representing the Grant District, defeated Ogden, 5,064 to 5,054, after an additional 82 provisional ballots were counted.

After the results were sent to the state Attorney General’s Office, Ogden was given an opportunity to request the recount after a 48-hour waiting period as required by the state.

Ogden said in a statement that he decided to file for the recount, noting the closeness of the race and urgency from his supporters.

“Since the canvass on Tuesday, my supporters, friends and family have been texting and calling saying I should ask for a recount,” Ogden said. “I ultimately decided to do so because the results are so razor thin and because I believe in my platform so much.”

Tuesday’s results were a reversal from what happened a week earlier on Election Night when Ogden was declared the winner by an even-narrower margin, 5,022 to 5,014, based on complete but unofficial results at that time.

Ogden said that should the results remain the same after the recount is done, he would provide his support to Davis.

“I realize that rarely are results overturned, but I thought I owed it to myself and my supporters to see this through,” Ogden said. “If the results stay the same after the recount, I offer my support to Jeff and offer any help I can to Hancock County.”

The Hancock County Commission seats are six-year terms, with one contested every two years based on which district is to be decided. The Clay District seat, currently held by Joe Barnabei, will be contested next in 2020, while the Grant District seat, held by Paul “Rex” Cowey III, will be up for grabs in 2022.

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