The Sherwood mayoral race could move to a runoff after challenger Mike Willingham requested a recount of the election results, saying uncounted ballots could reduce incumbent Mary Jo Heye-Townsell’s margin below the majority required to win outright.
Heye-Townsell defeated three challengers in the race and finished with a majority of the vote on election night. Her margin above the 50% threshold was five votes, according to the initial results described by KATV.
Willingham asked the Pulaski County Election Commission to agree to a recount by noon Thursday. The commission had planned to certify the results Friday.
Ballots could affect the threshold
Willingham said 15 ballots from military members serving overseas had not been counted. He also said a number of provisional ballots remained uncounted. Those ballots could change the candidates’ vote totals and leave Heye-Townsell with less than half of the votes.
- Heye-Townsell is the incumbent mayor of Sherwood.
- Willingham was one of three challengers in the race.
- A candidate must receive more than the required majority threshold to avoid a runoff.
If the final count places Heye-Townsell below 50%, the race would require a runoff election rather than being decided by the initial election results. The request places the next step with the Pulaski County Election Commission, which is responsible for reviewing the results and determining whether they can be certified.
Military and provisional ballots are handled as part of the election canvass before certification. The recount request concerns whether the remaining ballots should be included in the final totals and whether the five-vote majority margin remains after that process.
The race was among the local contests decided in Sherwood during the general election. The commission’s certification process will establish the official result and whether voters must return for a runoff.
