No calls for recounts in two town elections

Two tight Twin Counties municipal races were close enough Tuesday for a recount, election officials said, but the losing candidates in each race have yet to call for a review of ballots.

Taro Knight won the Tarboro Ward 7 race over Councilman Roy Gray by four votes, according to complete but unofficial election results, and Larry Taylor defeated James McBride by five votes in the at-large race for a seat on the Nashville Town Council.

Gray said he would let the official county canvass of results determine who wins, saying he saw little need to call for a recount. McBride could not be reached for comment, but he has not contacted Nash County election officials about a recount.

Both races were decided by less than a 1 percent difference, qualifying the contests for a recount, according to state law.

“We’re paying attention to the canvass, but I don’t see any need to call for a recount right now,” Gray said.

In another tight election, Edgecombe County election officials are continuing to review write-in ballots in the town of Speed, where only one candidate ran to fill five open seats on the town board, and no candidates filed to run for mayor.

Unofficial results in those races will be announced later this week.

In Castalia, write-in candidate Jeanette Evans earned 27 votes, officials said, enough to give her one of two open seats on the town board. Clarence Bender was the lead vote-getter in that race.

Elections boards are expected to finalize results later this week, officials said.