By Susan Dickson, Staff Writer
Democratic incumbent Chatham County commissioners George Lucier, Carl Thompson and Tom Vanderbeck were defeated in Tuesday’s election by narrow margins.
Lucier and Thompson could potentially request a recount, however, as 223 provisional ballots have yet to be counted, according to the Chatham County Board of Elections Office. Under state law, candidates may request a recount if the margin is less than 1 percent of total ballots cast, and the provisional ballots could put both Lucier and Thompson within that 1 percent margin.
Lucier said it was unlikely that he would request a recount, but that he would look to see if there were any irregularities in the voting process. Thompson could not be reached before The Citizen’s deadline on Wednesday.
Lucier, the board’s vice chair, said he felt as if the board had done a lot of good things for the county in recent years, adding, “I am concerned about the future of the county.â€
Lucier, Thompson and Vanderbeck, who were voted into office amid dissatisfaction with pro-development former commissioner Bunkey Morgan, often voted as a block on the board.
Thompson was defeated by Republican Walter Petty in District 5. Petty garnered 12,218 votes, or 50.63 percent, compared with Thompson’s 11,913 votes, or 49.37 percent.
In District 3, Lucier was defeated by Republican Brian Bock, who won 12,299 votes, or 50.9 percent, compared with Lucier’s 11,865 votes, or 49.1 percent.
Republican Pamela Stewart defeated Vanderbeck in District 4 with 12,329 votes, or 51.14 percent, compared with Vanderbeck’s 11,780 votes, or 48.86 percent.