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Sutherland holds on to Ward 1 councillor seat, despite recount

CALGARY- Despite an hours-long recount, Ward Sutherland has hung on to win the councillor’s seat for Ward 1.

Counts going into the early morning hours following Monday’s election determined that Ward Sutherland narrowly defeated fellow candidate Chris Harper, by only 85 votes. The original count was 8,724 for Sutherland, and 8,639 for Harper.

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That tight race triggered a recount that started on Wednesday morning, and just after 6 p.m. the returning officer confirmed Sutherland was in fact the winner, this time by 86 votes.

The winner says he was nervously awaiting the results.

“You just never know,” said Sutherland. “I’ve had about six hours sleep in the past three days, you’re on pins and needles all the time, and you have to have confidence that it is right.

“This just proves that the process does work.”

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Ward 1 was an open race, after long-time city councillor Dale Hodges decided not to seek re-election.

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