CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Six days after Marmet’s municipal election, the Kanawha County Voters Registration office announced Jay Snodgrass as the city’s new mayor following a canvass Monday afternoon.
Snodgrass’ opponent, incumbent Mayor Dan Fontalbert, originally won the election by seven votes, 247-243.
When the office reviewed the ballots Monday, officials noticed around 126 early absentee ballots were counted twice. The ballots were then counted by machine and by hand Monday afternoon.
Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick said the original results were a mistake.
“That’s what a canvass is for,” she said. “If you find a mistake, you correct it at canvass. I know they had a lot of questions, and I can understand that.”
Fontalbert, who spent Monday afternoon at the voters registration office, said he was disappointed by the results but would not ask for a recount.
“I was already making plans for the next term and lining out strategy and such,” he said. “Hopefully, Mr. Snodgrass will continue some of those plans and, if he’s willing, I’m always available for input.”
Fontalbert was appointed as mayor in May 2016 following Bill Pauley’s removal.
Snodgrass was out of town during the recount.
Marmet City Councilman-elect Johnny Walker said he hopes the voters registration office allows Marmet to use the county’s new touch-screen voting machines in the next election cycle. The city used paper ballots last week.
“This is the poorest excuse I have seen for a vote count,” he said.
The new city officials will take office in July.