Union officials consider options to break alderman bond

A judge approved a recount that resulted in a tie between two candidates for a seat on the Union Board of Aldermen.

The initial vote count in the April 2 race showed Bill Isgriggs winning 128-127 over Barbara Laberer. But in a May 6 recount, it was shown that a ballot considered one of 10 undervotes had actually been cast for Laberer, meaning the final tally was a tie of 128 -128.

On Thursday, Franklin County Circuit Judge Ryan Helfrich issued a ruling certifying the results as equal.

“This ends the court’s involvement,” Helfrich said in a statement.

Now, the results have been sent to Union City Clerk Jonita Copeland, who can call a special election. Helfrich added that the city would work with Franklin County Clerk Tim Baker on an election, although the costs of the election would be paid by the city.

But, if both candidates agree, they can schedule a “ballot election,” like a coin toss, to determine the winner.

Applicants must be notified of the time and location of the drawing at least five days in advance, according to state law.

Copeland received the ruling Friday and plans to discuss with the candidates next week whether to hold a special election or determine the winner by drawing lots, she said.

During the hand recount, officials indicated that a ballot with partially filled ballot boxes was likely the one that led to the vote discrepancy. Laura Schaefer, of Henry M. Adkins & Son, a Clinton company that has long supplied election materials to the county, said the boxes must be 60 percent full to be read by the machine, a standard that has not been met by the machine on Election Day, but appears to have been achieved during Monday’s machine count.

The ballot showed a line drawn in the box next to Laberer’s name, with a similar line drawn in one of the boxes for all other contests. Schaefer said the consistency showed the person intended to vote for Laberer.

Election officials later confirmed the tie by recounting the ballots by hand. The whole process took about an hour and a half.

Isgriggs, a former alderman who lost his seat to Laberer in 2020, was sworn in to the board at the aldermen’s April 8 meeting, the same day the election results were certified. Laberer filed a request for a recount on April 9, which Helfrich ordered during an April 29 hearing.

The Ward 2 race was the only contested aldermanic race on the ballot in Union this year.

The May meeting of the Union Board of Aldermen is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m.