CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Harrison County Del. Laura Kimble did not gain the votes she needed in a recount from the May 12 primary election and lost the nomination to former Fairmont State University athletic Director Tim McNeely.
Kimble called for the recount after she trailed McNeely by six votes following the canvass in the race for the Republican nomination for the District 71 seat. The recount took place Thursday.
Harrison County Clerk John Spires said the vote difference did not change following the recount. McNeely won by six votes.
“We counted all 14 precincts that were in the 71st Delegate District, that was at the request of the candidates, so we counted all of them, and it did not change any of the results from the canvas at all,” said Spires.
McNeely had a four vote advantage after election night. The lead widened to a six-vote margin after two additional absentee ballots were counted the following Monday.
Spires said legal counsel representing both McNeely and Kimble were both involved in the recount process, with each side asking questions and working to ensure the accuracy of the recount. Spires noted that even with the recount taking place, there was no dispute by either side regarding any possible votes that could be in dispute. Eight poll workers participated in the recount.
“At the least, everybody knew that the right thing happened. I think that was kind of everybody’s goal,” said Spires. “That was the goal, I think, of both candidates and their legal counsel, (they were) like, ‘Hey, we just want this to be right, and we want to prove that it’s right,’ so that’s what we did.”
McNeely will now face Democratic challenger Robert Garcia for the District 71 House of Delegates seat in the general election in November.
Spires expressed appreciation for everyone who took part in the process.
“I just want to thank all of our election workers and my deputy clerks who worked tirelessly today to make sure that everybody was satisfied with the outcome of the election,” said Spires.