×

Rhodes: No call for recount in Wood County primary

PARKERSBURG — No one requested a recount of the May 10 primary election returns in Wood County, even with a couple of close races as officials certified the results for the local races.

The deadline to request the recount passed Wednesday afternoon with no one seeking one, said Wood County Clerk Mark Rhodes, the county’s chief elections officer.

Two races were separate by less than a dozen votes as a result of the canvass held on Monday.

Incumbent Debbie Hendershot won by five votes over Jeff Fox for the Board of Education, although unofficial results had him three votes ahead prior to the canvass.

In the new House of Delegates District 11, Bob Fehrenbacher, a first-time candidate, by 10 votes defeated Delegate Roger Conley, incumbent from the old 10th Delegate District, for the Republican nomination to run in the November general election.

Fox said Thursday he decided not to seek a recount and he will accept the results.

“It was a close race and I lost,” he said. “I have no hard feelings.

“I called Debbie Hendershot and congratulated her.”

In thinking about doing a possible recount and talking with people he couldn’t get a clear estimate on what it would cost him but it was estimated to be around $3,500-$4,000 range.

“You have to weigh all of that and I don’t want to look like a sore loser,” Fox said.

Fox has previously served on Parkersburg City Council serving his district in north end and would have stayed there if he won the last election in 2020.

“I was happy sitting on council and being a part of that,” Fox said. “(Getting voted out) opened my eyes to other things.”

If he remained on council, he probably would not have considered running for a county-wide office.

“It pushed me out of my comfort zone to try new things,” he said.

Fox is thankful for all the support he has gotten in his races. He is not sure what he will run for next and he is looking at his options.

“2024 is not that far away,” Fox said, adding he will have to decide soon to be able to start building his campaign.

“I will look at all my options and stay positive,” he said.

Conley decided against doing a recount, but he is also looking at his options.

“At this point in time, I’m talking to family, constituents and supporters,” he said. “There are other options we are seriously considering.

“I don’t know which one of those options is going to be the most viable, but we will be making a decision by the first of the week as to what direction we are going to be going in. All options are open and on the table.”

Conley has contended that Fehrenbacher, was not a registered Republican when he filed. Fehrenbacher said he changed his registration when he found out he was not affiliated with the party, but always considered himself a Republican and has run as one.

Local and state GOP officials had urged Fehrenbacher to drop out of the race as the question of his party registration and its timing could open the door for a Democratic candidate to possibly take the seat. Democrat Harry Deitzler is the candidate for this race and is currently set to face the Republican challenger in November for the seat.

Deitzler has said he would not legally challenge Fehrenbacher’s candidacy and said he is content to let the voters chose between them.

Conley has maintained Fehrenbacher did not follow the law when he filed.

“Anyone can look at the data and see there is nothing to think about,” he said. “It is a fact, (Fehrenbacher) has been registered as a non-party affiliate since, I believe, 2010.

“There is not question that he was not a Republican when he filed to run. That is a matter of public record.”

The county is still waiting on some counties to declare their results in regards to the Congressional races. Rhodes said, adding Morgan County had not declared as of Thursday morning.

The county will await the other counties to certify and then do the final certification for their results.

Commission President Blair Couch said they would sign off on those certifications at Monday’s commission meeting.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today