New Hanover County’s final vote tally is in, and while the results were tweaked slightly, the overall outcomes remain the same. Late Thursday night, the county’s election board made the results official after a day spent counting provisional and mail-in ballots.
Commissioner Race: The most notable adjustment occurred in the county commissioner’s race. Stephanie Walker edged out Dane Scalise for the second-highest vote total, flipping their positions from the preliminary results. However, the top three finishers — Bill Rivenbark (62,802 votes), Scalise (61,423 votes), and Walker (61,469 votes) — are all set to join the board. Walker will be taking her seat for the first time, while Rivenbark and Scalise will continue their service.
- Jonathan Barfield, a 16-year veteran of the board, finished in fourth place, just 244 votes shy of Scalise. Barfield confirmed to WECT that he has no plans to request a recount, officially marking the end of his long tenure on the board.
School Board: In the school board race, the final count similarly saw vote totals change but no shift in candidate rankings. Judy Justice, with 63,848 votes, retained her spot as the top vote-getter and will be returning to the board after losing re-election in 2022. Joining her will be newcomers Tim Merrick (62,010 votes) and David Perry (60,918 votes).
