MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Elections certified the Nov. 4 General Election results on Friday, but after counting provisional ballots and conducting internal audits, two races triggered an automatic recount.
A difference of 0.5% triggers an automatic recount.
In the Monroe Township trustee race, there was a difference of 0.13% between Doug Smith and James Lepley. The following are the official results:
•Wayne T. Zollars 233 votes, 30.22% (officially elected)
•Doug Smith 193 votes, 25.03% (declared elected)
•James Chris Lepley 192 votes, 24.90% (declared defeated)
•John E. Popham 153 votes, 19.84% (officially defeated)
In the race for three seats on the Knox County Educational Service Center for the term starting Jan. 1, 2026, Rebecca Nourse narrowed the gap on Thomas Groshong to 0.29%.
The following are the official results:
•Kenneth Boeshart 369 votes, 26.10% (officially elected)
•Vicki Bechtel 363 votes, 25.67% (officially elected)
•Thomas Groshong 246 votes, 17.40% (declared elected)
•Rebecca Nourse 242 votes 17.11% (declared defeated)
All four ESC candidates were write-in candidates.
BOE Director James Blazer said he was surprised at the recounts. However, he noted it was partly due to counting write-in ballots on a computer screen late on election night.
“Because there were so many of these races that were write-ins, we were trying to help the public to know what the outcomes were, and for the candidates, too,” he said.
“But at that point, we were real tired. We’re in a room with a bunch of people, and there are distractions.”
The Loudonville-Perrysville school board race also triggered a recount in Ashland County. The district dips into Jefferson and Brown townships in Knox County.
Recount set for Dec. 1
Because it crosses counties, the ESC race is considered a countywide race. The elections board is required to notify the Secretary of State’s Office when a recount is triggered in countywide races.
“Even though it’s a local school board, it is still is considered the same as a county race. ESCs cross county lines, and so it throws off the surrounding counties,” Blazer explained.
“Because we have a recount, they have a recount as well.”
The Monroe trustee race is considered a local race.
The elections board set the official public recount for Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. Candidates can attend the recount or have observers attend on their behalf.
Elections staff must review at least 5% of the votes when conducting a recount.
However, Deputy Director Goodman said that because Monroe Township has two precincts and a portion of Mount Vernon’s 3rd Ward votes on township trustees, the BOE will audit much more than 5%.
For the ESC race, the BOE will recount votes between Wayne and Pike townships and Hilliar B precinct.
“Butler would be our 4th if we have to include them to get to the 5%,” Goodman said.
Blazer said, “What makes it more interesting is it’s all write-ins. So we have to pull all the ballots.”
Auditing the vote
The Ohio Revised Code requires election boards to audit countywide issues and two local races of their choice.
The sole countywide issue was the Mental Health & Recovery Board levy. For the local races, the board chose Mount Vernon’s 3rd Ward council race and the Liberty Township trustee race.
Elections staff will audit Brinkhaven, Fredericktown B, Mount Vernon 3A, Clinton C, and Liberty B.
The board set Dec. 12 at 8 a.m. as the audit date.
(Below are the official election results.)