A recount in the race for Butler County associate judge will not occur following a decision by candidate Ralph Innes, who lost to Wade Pierce by 31 votes in last week's election.
According to Butler County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall, the margin of victory was so narrow in the judge's race, the unsuccessful candidate could legally have sought a recount.
Deffendall said because the race in question was the race for associate judge, the petition was required to have been filed in the court of an adjoining county once the results were certified at noon Friday.
Innes released a statement Monday saying that after much deliberation with his family and friends, he will not pursue the recount.
"I want to offer my congratulations to my friend Wade Pierce on his successful campaign to be our next associate circuit judge. I also want to thank Judge (John) Bloodworth for his outstanding service to Butler County," Innes stated. "Running for office is truly an experience hard to appreciate until your name is on the ballot. The support this community has shown me and my family has been very humbling.
"Whether you knocked on doors with us, talked to your friends and neighbors, liked our page and shared its postings, financially contributed to our campaign, or even gave me words of encouragement along the way, thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Pierce said he was pleased to learn his opponent would not petition the court for a recount. Because there is no Democratic challenger in November's general election, Pierce will take office in January.
"Although it was a close race, and I suspected all along that it would be, I was very confident in the accuracy of our election process and not at all concerned that a recount would change the outcome," Pierce said. "I'm also pleased that I can now focus my attention on the transition from private practice to the bench and excited at the opportunity to serve Butler County."
Pierce said he is grateful for the outpouring of support he received during the election process. He thanked his family, colleagues, friends and everyone else who helped with his campaign, and who took the time to go to the polls last Tuesday to cast their vote.
"Lastly, even though I have conveyed this to him privately, I would like to publicly express my gratitude to Ralph for running a clean campaign and showing the same respect to me these past six months that I showed to him," Pierce said. "We were friends when this race started and agreed we would remain friends when it was over and that hasn't changed."