Grant to Contest Algood Council Race

Justin Grant will contest the Algood City Council race against Ruby Hawkins.

Current councilman Justin Grant said he contested the race to ensure the race lacks error.

“So in a margin of one vote, five votes can actually have a huge sway. And I am under no delusion,” Grant said. “I know just because people are involved in the system there is always going to be some amount of error. It just so happens that in this particular case that error is really important.”

Three voters should not have voted with an Algood ballot, while two others were given incorrect ballots.

Hawkins holds the council elect seat with a one-vote lead.

Grant said he hopes people see how their votes matter in local elections.

“It is easy to think that our vote doesn’t matter or that it doesn’t count, but in this case it does. And when it was down to just one vote in my favor and now it is one vote in her favor,” Grant said. “It has made me more appreciative of the power we have in our democratic process. And I know a lot of people didn’t vote. There was 11,092 people that voted, and that’s not how many people live in Algood.”

Ultimately, Grant said he wants the next steps completed carefully so that the citizens can trust the outcome of the election.

Grant filled out the appropriate paperwork today and will file the contest either today or tomorrow.