SPANISH FORK — It's official — G. Wayne Andersen will join the City Council in January, along with Councilman-elect Steve Leifsen and Mayor-elect Joe Thomas.

A ballot recount Monday placed Andersen 12 votes ahead of Royden Hill for the second council seat up for election in the Nov. 8 general election. Four people ran for the two at-large seats, with Leifsen the top vote-getter and Andersen placing second following the recount that was formally certified by the current City Council at a special afternoon session.

Hill finished two votes ahead of Andersen on election night, but when absentee and provisional ballots were counted, Andersen pulled ahead by eight votes, prompting Hill to request a recount.

Fifteen residents who serve as city election judges recounted ballots for four hours Monday morning, said Kent Clark, the Spanish Fork finance director and city recorder.

Andersen received 2,165 votes and Hill 2,153 votes, according to the final results.

Hill brought five people with him to watch the recount and was present when the final results were announced.

"The counters did a very good job, they were very cooperative," Hill said. "I don't think there's any mistakes at all. I just have to accept it."

The last weeks have been nerve-racking, Andersen said.

"I tried not to think about it and had a lot of butterflies," he said.

A recount has also been called for in Goshen, where Patricia Bergener edged Rex Kay for the two-year City Council seat by one vote, 145-144.

The votes will be recounted starting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Goshen officials said the council will certify the election results as they currently stand during its regular City Council meeting at 7 tonight at City Hall, 74 W. 800 South, Goshen. They said the certification will be revisited if the recount changes the outcome.

---

Contributing: Jared Page

E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com