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A single vote wound up making the difference in one Pierce County city council race

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — Mandatory hand recounts have been completed in two extremely close Pierce County races from the Nov. 7 general election.

Those counts matched the certified machine counts perfectly for both races, according to the county Auditor’s Office, so the initial results will stand.

The two races that triggered recounts were Buckley City Council, Position 3 and Lakewood Water Commissioner, Position 3.

In Buckley, one vote separated Luke Wilbanks from Chuck Helmer after the ballots were counted by both machine and hand. Wilbanks got 455 and Helmer 454.

In the race for water commissioner, John S. Korsmo Jr. led Gary Barton, 3,925 to 3,906. After the recount, that 19-vote margin stands.

The recounts took place Monday and Tuesday.

Turnout countywide was 28.56 percent.

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