by Don Richeson –
Challenger Barbara Hartley defeated incumbent Diane Gravatt 169-146 to win the race for Urbanna mayor, according to unofficial Nov. 3 election results posted on the state elections website Wednesday morning. While it was unclear Wednesday morning who had officially won the nationwide presidential race — millions of mail-in votes had yet to be counted — Middlesex County voters had picked incumbent Donald Trump over Joe Biden, 4,181-2,482.
Mirroring the national election, some Urbanna votes still awaited counting at the Sentinel’s press time Wednesday, so the complete slate of Urbanna Town Council winners had yet to be officially announced. Winners and vote totals based on the ballots counted as of Wednesday morning were Larry Chowning, 286; Bill Goldsmith, 184; Steven Hollberg, 184; Bill Smith, 183; and Merri Hanson, 163. It was a tie for the sixth winner, with Marjorie Austin and Dave Lipscombe each receiving 130 votes.
When asked how the tie would be decided, Middlesex Registrar Melissa Welch said via email, “There are still votes to be counted! But in the case of a tie, results will be determined by lot. … we have two provisional ballots cast in town and we are able to accept any ballot mailed and post marked by (Nov. 3) if we receive it by noon on Friday.”
