Tuesday's recounts in two closely contested municipal races ended exactly the way they had Election Day, with the leaders in the contests for Mahanoy City mayor and Schuylkill Township supervisor keeping their victories.
Incumbent Mahanoy City Mayor Nancy A. Petritsch, a Democrat, will keep her office, as the recount confirmed her three-vote win over Republican challenger Dennis Wiessner, 475-472.
"What happened, happened," Wiessner said. "At least there are no glitches in the machines. It is what it is."
In an even closer contest, Republican Charles J. Fayash won the race for Schuylkill Township supervisor by one vote, edging Democrat Linda A. DeCindio, 188-187.
"There were no changes from Election Day," county GOP Chairman Gary L. Bender said.
County Election Bureau Director Frannie Brennan said people should learn from the recounts both the importance of voting and the effectiveness of the voting machines.
"One vote counts," she said.
Brennan also said the fact that the totals after the recounts matched the totals from election night proves the value of the electronic machines.
"The machines are pretty good," she said. "They get an accurate count."
The recounts took less than two hours combined, with the tabulations starting at 9 a.m. and finishing before 11 a.m.
County President Judge William E. Baldwin and Brennan supervised the proceedings, with no complaints being lodged in either race.
"You can tell these employees have done it before," Brennan said of the rapid counting of the votes.