By By JAN GRIFFEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Council candidate Greg O'Toole has asked for a recount of the ballots cast Tuesday in the city's second ward.
O'Toole narrowly lost his bid to represent the second ward on the city council by two votes.
Incumbent Dan VandenHeede won a new term on the council with 120 votes to O'Toole's 118.
Niles City Clerk Ruth Harte said Friday afternoon O'Toole asked the county's Board of Canvasser on Thursday afternoon to conduct the recount. It has been scheduled for Friday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m. in the Berrien County Clerk's office on the first floor of the County Courthouse in St. Joseph.
Harte said O'Toole had to wait to make his request for a recount until aftter the county's Board of Canvassers, which consists of three people, made official Tuesday's election results. They accomplished that task on Thursday at about 2:30 p.m.
The second ward results were the last to arrive at City Hall Tuesday night. Harte said the city's election workers counted the ballots six times Tuesday night.