Under questioning by Bob Gale, director of the Jefferson County Board of Elections, county election clerks Traci Corder, left, and Dawn Freeman confirmed ballots delivered to the board’s office on election night arrived sealed as county election officials prepared on Monday to recount those cast in a close Wintersville Council race involving incumbent Jason Mattern and challenger Rich Gunther. Photo by Warren Scott

WINTERSVILLE — Monday’s two-hour recount of votes cast in Wintersville in the Nov. 4 general election supported the results that had been reported for a tight council race that left incumbent Jason Mattern ahead of challenger Rich Gunther by three votes.

Deputy Elections Director Ernest Burress and Frankie DiCarlantonio, a member of the county’s board of elections, recounted 996 ballots cast by voters, before fellow election board members.

Their efforts confirmed Mattern received 523 votes while Gunther received 520 votes.

The two were among five candidates for three at large council seats.

The race included Bob Merriman, who received 589 votes; Carmen DeStefano, who received 546 votes; and Randy Spence, who received 540 votes.

Ballots scanned by Burress and DiCarlantonio included 160 cast at the board of elections office during the early voting period, 79 submitted through absentee ballots and five provisional ballots as well as 752 cast in person on Election Day.

Mattern, who was contacted for comment, said, “The Jefferson County Board of Elections has done a great job of keeping me informed about timelines, key dates and how a thorough and accurate recount process is conducted. With their recount responsibilities now concluded, my responsibilities begin anew, and I look forward to serving the Wintersville citizens for another four years”

“I do not know Rich or Sharon Gunther personally at all. But what I do know is that they are good people with great aspirations for our Village. I hope they remain active in council activities and continue to keep Wintersville moving forward in a positive and prosperous direction. Our village benefits when citizens like Rich and Sharon are active in it, and I wish them both the very best,” he said.

Gunther, who attended the recount with his wife, Sharon, was asked his impression of the process followed by election officials.

“The process was great. The outcome I would have liked to have gone another way,” he said.

Gunther said while he was disappointed to have fallen short by so little in the election race, he appreciated all who supported him.

“A lot of people were pulling for me,” he said while also offering congratulations to Mattern.

Asked if he will consider running for council again in the next election, he said, “I’m going to take a back seat right now and evaluate everything.”

“I’m not ruling out anything. I will see what happens,” said Gunter.

Also on hand for the recount were Fiona Ruminksi, regional liaison for Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the state’s chief election official; and Bob Gale, director of the county’s board of elections.

Gale explained such a recount is done whenever the difference between the totals for candidates is less than one-half of 1 percent.

Noting that difference is affected by the number of voters who turned out, he said the difference between totals for Mattern and Gunther was a 10th of 1 percent.

Gale recused himself from the recount itself, stating he is a Wintersville resident and a friend of one of the two candidates.

The recount revealed that of 297 votes cast in Wintersville’s Precinct A, Gunther received 161 votes and Mattern received 133.

In Precinct B, Mattern received 161 votes while Gunther received 139.

And in Precinct C, Mattern received 229 votes while Gunther received 220.

The board of elections reported 996 of the village’s 2,735 registered voters turned out for the election.