Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Michael Sutphin has officially been declared the new mayor of Blacksburg after the result of a recount was announced late Friday.
The final result did not change, as Sutphin defeated Peter Macedo by 18 votes.
Before Friday’s 11-hour recount, Sutphin led by 15 votes. After hand recounting and surveying of the Blacksburg electronic votes, he gained three more votes. A three-judge panel certified the results.
Sutphin expressed thanks after the process ended in his favor.
“I’m excited to get to work as Blacksburg’s next mayor,” he said. “This process has shown not only the integrity of our election system but the importance of every single vote. I would like to thank the Montgomery County Office of Elections staff and registrar, the recount coordinators and officials, the volunteers who served as observers, the Montgomery County Clerk of Court’s Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the three judges who presided over today’s recount.
“They made sure we had an orderly and accurate recount of the votes,” he added. “I would also like to thank everyone who supported me along the way and cast their votes in this fall’s election.”
While Macedo might have been disappointed in the outcome, he did express some positive feelings about his first journey at an attempt for public office.
“This campaign has been a wonderful experience for me, and I loved how engaged our community became in our local election,” he said.
Because of Sutphin’s mayoral election, there will be an open seat on council, thus the governmental body will have to appoint someone to fill his remaining term.
