The candidate who won re-election to the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education by pulling a slip of paper marked “elected” ended up losing after a recount of the district’s votes.
Michelle Hemeyer, the current board secretary, was tied with Greg Keller at 5,264 votes apiece in the Nov. 8 election. Under Michigan law, local election ties are decided by a drawing, and Hemeyer pulled the “elected” slip on Nov. 11.
Keller then filed for the recount, which took place Friday.
The recount showed changes in vote totals for all candidates, but there was no change in the top 4 finishers for the three open seats, except that in what had been a third-place tie ended up with Hemeyer gaining 6 additional votes and Keller gaining 24 for an 18-vote win.
After the recount, Keller ended up with 5,288 votes, and Hemeyer ended up with 5,270 votes.
The recount — the cost of which will be borne by the Hartland school district — was approved unanimously by the Livingston County Board of Canvassers.
