The numbers are close, but official, following a Nov. 14 canvass approved unanimously by the New Hanover County Board of Elections: Democrat Rob Zapple earned a seat on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners with a 186-vote lead over Republican Dr. Derrick Hickey.
Because the margin between Zapple and Hickey is less than one percent, Hickey is legally entitled to request a recount of all 66,939 votes counted. Zapple, who attended a Nov. 13 meeting of the board to count and verify absentee and provisional ballots, said the process is thorough and he is confident in the final results.
“He is the captain of his own ship,” Zapple said. “But I feel very solid about the election results, and I think the voters have spoken.”
Chairman John Ferrante recognized the legal right of any qualifying candidate, including Hickey, to request a recount, but he said he was also confident in the final results approved by the board during the canvass.
“We certified the results today, so that signifies that we’re confident,” Ferrante said.
Hickey must request a recount by 5 p.m. Nov. 17. Elections director Marvin McFadyen confirmed during the canvass that county staff is prepared to immediately handle a recount request — a process that would require the county to rent two machines to revisit every ballot cast, carrying a price tag of $8,000 or $9,000. No statute governs how quickly a recount must be handled, but McFadyen said it would be handled by Nov. 21.
Zapple, who stopped by the canvass with fellow commissioner-elect Skip Watkins after a meeting with county staff, said he is already embracing his duties as county commissioner.
“It’s full-steam ahead. We’re going to get the county back to work,” Zapple said.
When the polls closed on Election Day, Zapple held a lead among early voters against Watkins, Hickey and fellow Democrat Pat Spear. But as results from New Hanover County’s 43 precincts rolled in, Watkins secured the top spot while Hickey and Zapple remained neck-and-neck until the last precinct reported around midnight, pushing Zapple ahead by 204 votes.
Election night results remained unofficial until the board revisited 534 provisional ballots, cast most commonly by unregistered voters or voters who showed up at the wrong precinct. The board approved 131 provisional ballots, which narrowed Zapple’s lead over Hickey by 18 votes.
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