Hawkins Contesting Results Of Algood City Council Election

Algood City Council candidate Ruby Hawkins is contesting last week’s election that ended in a tie.

“She also wants to ask for a recount and I’m not exactly sure what that means in the courts eyes, but we will find that out,” Putnam County Election Administrator Debbie Steidl said. “We’ve touched base with the state and we will see if we are still able to certify the results on Friday and we may or may not be able to do that.”

Steidl said a person can contest an election up until five days after it’s been certified.

“She is interested in pursuing this and she certainly has the right,” Steidl said. “It could mean that it goes to chancery court.”

Thursday night election results indicated that Justin Grant had won the second Algood city council seat by receiving 300 votes. Hawkins received 299, but a provisional ballot discovered Friday morning was cast for Hawkins, making the election a tie.

Steidl said the current Algood City Council will decide who gets the winning vote or if a run off election will occur.