Close election results became dead even last night when absentee ballots were counted during the Pleasant Grove City Council work session. Incumbent Lee Jensen and challenger Milton Fugal have each received 1895 votes.

After provisional ballots were counted last week, Fugal was ahead by three votes. However, five absentee ballots were opened and tallied last night, adding three more votes for Jensen.

"We have an exact tie between two candidates, Milton Fugal and Lee Jensen," declared Mayor Michael Daniels. "We absolutely will have a recount."

According to City Recorder Kathy Kresser, poll workers will be called back in to recount all of the votes for Jensen and Fugal. That totals 3,790 votes.

The votes must be recounted on the same day that the council members and mayor will be present to act as the Board of Canvassers and accept and certify the results, according to Daniels. This will happen on Nov. 17 at the beginning of the City Council meeting.

Kresser said that the recount could take several hours, as the original election count took more than three hours. Therefore, the poll workers will meet earlier in the day before the council meeting.

And what should happen if there is still a tie after votes are counted again?

"We didn't expect this," said City Attorney Tina Petersen, who will research the matter to determine exactly what should be done in case of a tie.

The council certified election results for Bruce Call as the new mayor and Kim Robinson, who will take over the other available council seat. As of January, an additional council seat will become available when Call takes over as mayor.

Related

• Pleasant Grove counts provisional ballots
• Jensen wins Pleasant Grove council seat in recount