SUFFOLK, Va. — More than a week after Election Day, it appears control of the mayor's seat in Suffolk could go to a recount.
After waiting seven days for provisional ballots and other post-election ballots, such as mail-in ballots received by Friday, to be reported, Suffolk residents saw the result: incumbent Mayor Mike Duman currently leads by 161 votes over his closest challenger, former General Assembly member Clinton Jenkins.
Duman garnered 34.86% of the vote, compared to 34.55% for Jenkins. The third contender, farmer David Bosselman, got 30.27% of the vote.
Because the difference between Duman and Jenkins is less than 1% of the total for just those two candidates, Jenkins could request a recount. Because the difference is less than one-half of 1%, the recount would be paid for by the city.
If Jenkins does request a recount, the request would be made to the Suffolk Circuit Court, where the chief judge sets the place for the recount and sits on a recount court with two other judges designed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
13News Now reached out to Duman and Jenkins on Wednesday for comment and did not hear back.