NICK THOMPSON WINS -- ALBION OUT OF A JOB!

State House candidate Nick Thompson was declared the winner in his race against Lee County Commissioner John Albion Saturday after a recount failed to change early results. Saturday’s recount, which included re-examination of absentee ballots and a re-run of other votes, ended with Thompson holding a 35-vote lead.

Albion claimed 4,405 votes, and Thompson, 4,440. Thompson, a Republican making his first run for office, will face Democrat Pete Burkert, an attorney and also a political newcomer, in November.

The totals changed by a handful of votes since Tuesday’s election, which ended with Thompson holding a 34-vote lead.

A ballot count Friday of provisional ballots, or those that were held back while checks were made to see if they were legally cast, produced two more votes for Thompson, for a 36-vote lead.

Then Albion gained one when absentees were re-examined Saturday. But Thompson’s margin of at least 30 points did not change, and no further recounts are required, said Elections Supervisor Sharon Harrington.