Sykes edges Martinez for Toledo Council seat; recount to come

Toledo City Council candidates Adam Martinez, left, and Larry Sykes.

Larry Sykes has squeezed ahead of incumbent Adam Martinez for the sixth and final Toledo city council seat, but a recount is on its way.

The Lucas County Board of Elections certified the Nov. 5 election results today, and the final count vote altered the results of the unofficial tally on election night. Mr. Martinez narrowly edged out fellow Democrat Larry Sykes for the last of six at-large council seats in the unofficial count reported on election night, by 34 votes, according to the unofficial final vote.

But after 504 provisional ballots were counted, Mr. Sykes moved ahead of Mr. Martinez by five votes, at 19,282 to Mr. Martinez's 19,277. Because the results were within a half of a percent, an automatic recount will commence.

A random drawing of precincts that make up five percent of the vote total will be held on Wednesday, and the recount will be on Dec. 5.

Theresa Gabriel — the fifth highest vote-getter, retained her spot in the certified results, up over Mr. Sykes by 88 votes with 19,370.