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'We're Still Waiting': 5 Aldermanic Races Too Close To Call

By DNAinfo Staff | April 8, 2015 8:39am | Updated on April 8, 2015 11:54am

 Ald. Michele Smith (l.) and Caroline Vickrey were separated by 1 percent of votes in the 43rd Ward Tuesday night. Absentee and provisional ballots still need to be counted.
Ald. Michele Smith (l.) and Caroline Vickrey were separated by 1 percent of votes in the 43rd Ward Tuesday night. Absentee and provisional ballots still need to be counted.
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CHICAGO — Election Night had an incomplete ending in five Chicago wards, where vote totals were too close to call in Tuesday's runoff race.

In the 10th Ward, incumbent Ald. John Pope, who has served the Southeast Side ward since 1999, was trailing challenger Susan Sadlowski Garza by fewer than 10 votes with 97 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night. Both candidates said they had expected a more decisive victory.

In the 16th Ward, Ald. Toni Foulkes, who previously represented the 15th Ward, has declared victory, but her opponent has not conceded. With just 2 percent of votes separating Foulkes and challenger Stephanie Coleman late Tuesday night, this race may be decided by provisional and absentee votes, which have not been counted.

Provisional ballots are ballots cast by voters who had their eligibility questioned at the polls on Election Day. Voters still are allowed to vote, but the ballot is counted only if officials can verify the voters' eligibility.

VIEW ELECTION RESULTS HERE

In the 21st Ward, incumbent Ald. Howard Brookins had a slim lead over challenger Marvin McNeil with 100 percent of precincts reporting. Brookins had 7,374 votes, or 50.7 percent of the count. Retired city employee Marvin McNeil had 7,168 votes, or 49.3 percent.

"We're still waiting for the numbers," a McNeil campaign official answered, when asked whether his camp would concede. Brookins, meanwhile, declared victory.

In the 37th Ward, incumbent Ald. Emma Mitts is leading challenger Tara Stamp by several percentage points, but there was no majority, and neither candidate could be reached for comment about whether they were ready to declare victory or concede.

In the 43rd Ward, incumbent Ald. Michele Smith and challenger Caroline Vickrey were separated by 1 percent of votes Tuesday night.

Election officials blamed a "glitch" for two precincts not being counted in the 43rd Ward. Those will be counted Wednesday.

In each of these races, early votes have been tallied, but absentee and provisional ballots still need to be counted.

DNAinfo/Tanveer Ali

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