Salt Lake City Council race awaits canvass, likely recount

Salt Lake City Councilman Soren Simonsen escaped election night clinging to a nine-vote lead over challenger Lisa Ramsey Adams.

The capital city's District 7 race, however, likely won't be decided until nearly Thanksgiving.

Simonsen had 1,768 votes to Adams' 1,759 Wednesday morning. But of the 11,300 absentee and provisional ballots Salt Lake County election officials must still count, elections director Scott Konopasek estimated "100 to 200" remained uncounted in the tight District 7 race.

The county clerk's office will release the results of their canvass Nov. 17, but it could take another week to determine a winner, Konopasek said.

"My experience tells me that even after we count the 100 or 200, it is still going to stay within the recount margin," he said.

The loser of an election can request a recount if the margin of defeat is smaller than one vote per precinct. In District 7, there are 30 precincts.

Simonsen and Adams attributed to the tight race to well-run campaigns.

"She ran a really good race," Simonsen said of his opponent. "She was able to put more into the campaign than I was. I felt like I was constantly just trying to keep up with the pace she set."

The newcomer Adams also had an edge in campaign contributions. Adams outraised Simonsen $30,000 to $14,600, according to the latest data.

Both candidates, meanwhile, are anxious for a winner to be named.

"This is how I felt when I was pregnant," Adams said. "My due date was yesterday and my doctor said you're not going to have this baby until at least the 17th. I've been living for Nov. 3, and now you're telling me to hold on for two more weeks."

After the canvass results are released, the loser will have five days to request a recount. If a recount is immediately requested, county officials plan to have the results ready by Nov. 20, Konopasek said. A delayed request would push that date back to Nov. 25.

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