MANSFIELD — The last couple of weeks have not been easy for Crystal Davis Weese, waiting for the Mansfield City Council 3rd Ward race to be confirmed.
It became worth the wait on Monday morning when the Richland County Board of Elections met and certified the results of the Nov. 4 general election.
Davis Weese, a Democrat challenger, officially unseated Republican incumbent Rev. El Akuchie, 501-491.
She had led by two votes on Election Night (487-485), but had to wait for the bipartisan board to approve and count 20 provisional votes cast in the ward.
Those votes went 14 for Davis Weese and six for Akuchie.
The 10-vote margin is 1 percent of the final vote total, meaning no automatic recount is necessary, according to local Elections Director Matt Finfgeld. An automatic recount is triggered when the final difference is one-half of 1 percent of the final vote total.
“There were moments in the past couple of weeks when I felt really confident. I felt great,” Davis Weese said after the totals were certified by a unanimous vote of the four-member board.
“Then when I heard a lot of the provisionals came from nursing homes …. some self doubt began to creep in. Maybe that was an area I didn’t cover,” she said.
“I feel like the work I have done in this community would carry me through. We are at a time when people want thought leaders who care about people, not just take one side or the other,” Davis Weese said.
“The people in the 3rd Ward clearly wanted that,” she said.
Akuchie won the seat in 2021 by a narrow margin (425-409), upending then Democratic incumbent Jon VanHarlingen.
Despite the Davis Weese victory, Republicans will still control City Council. Among the eight voting seats in January, there will be four Republicans, three Democrats and one independent, 5th Ward representative Aurelio Diaz.
Council President Phil Scott is a Democrat, but only votes in the event of a tie.
“I just want to give thanks to God for giving me the privilege of serving Him and the people of Mansfield for the last four years,” Akuchie said late Monday afternoon.
“If He has decided to close that door and has something else for me, I an always ready to follow His lead. I have always tried to lead my life based on Biblical principles,” Akuchie said.
He congratulated Davis Weese and wished her well.
“God has everything under control. I pray Crystal will serve the people of Mansfield and the people in the 3rd Ward as she knows best,” he said. “The people have voted, but God is the one who puts us there to serve His people.
“For four years, I never took anything for granted, while in office or campaigning. We did everything we could do, so I am not disappointed. I have no regrets,” Akuchie said.
