As new ballots are counted in Carson City election, assumed wins may become more complicated
As more mail-in ballots are being counted at the Carson City Clerk’s Office, some local races could become more interesting as the week continues.
While initial reports seemed to point towards Lori Bagwell having cinched the primary election for Carson City Mayor with a neat 51 percent, as new ballots were entered into the system she has since dipped to 50.39 percent.
While this doesn’t seem like that much of a percentage change, it could mean that the race is not yet done.
According to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 293C.175 “If, in a primary city election held in a city of population category one or two, one candidate receives a majority of votes cast in that election for the office for which he or she is a candidate, the candidate must be declared elected to the office and the candidate’s name must not be placed on the ballot for the general city election. If, in the primary city election, no candidate receives a majority of votes cast in that election for the office for which he or she is a candidate, the names of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes must be placed on the ballot for the general city election.”
A majority, in this case, would be over half of the vote. As of Thursday, June 11, Bagwell has 50.39 percent of the vote with 6,636 votes. On election day, her votes were counted at 5,422 votes which was 51.64 percent.
However, if additional votes come in and she dips below the 50 percent mark, that would mean that she would not be declared the new Carson City Mayor, but instead, she and Jim Shirk, who has 23.05 percent of the vote with 3,035, will both be placed on the ballot in November.
On election day, Shirk was at 22.42 percent with 2,354 votes.
Similarly, one seat of the Board of Supervisors will be headed to the November ballot, as there is currently a three way fight between Ronni Hannaman (28.81 percent, 3,658 votes), Maurice “Mo” White (34.57 percent, 4,389 votes) and Stacie Wilke-McCulloch (30.90 percent, 3,923 votes). Lorne Houle, the fourth contender, received 5.72 percent with 726 votes.
On election day, Hannaman held 29.81 percent of the vote with 3,024 votes, White had 33.33 percent with 3,381 votes, and Wilke-McCulloch had 31.17 percent with 3,162 votes.
However, it appears that Lisa Schuette has cinched the seat for Ward 4 of the Board of Supervisors, with a current percentage of 65.47 and a total of 8,341 votes. However, on election day she was at 66.94 percent, with 6,808 votes while Ronald Bratsch had 17.55 percent at 1,785 votes, and Mike Smith had 15.51 percent with 1,578 votes.
Bratsch is now at 18.77 percent with 2,391 votes, and Smith is holding onto his 15 percent with 2,009 votes.
As of Thursday, there have 13,512 votes counted, which is a 39.34 percent voter turnout rate, according to the Carson City Clerk’s Office.
Carson Now will continue to update election totals through June 19 when results are finalized.