By Billy Davis
A recount of ballots in Crenshaw concluded Thursday with Mayor Oscar Barlow winning re-election to the mayor’s office.

Barlow defeated challenger Phyllis Sanford by a 10-vote lead in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, and the “official” recount two days later finished with the incumbent maintaining an eight-vote lead.

The recount took place in the city courtroom, where the Crenshaw Democratic Election Commission pored over ballots in five wards, naming off the selected candidate. The recount took approximately one hour.

Barlow called the final tally “close but official” after the recount was completed and vote totals completed.

“Now we can move on to four more years of moving Crenshaw forward,” he said.
Before the recount commenced, Sanford told Barlow and the election commission that the “town needs to come together” to improve itself.

“God may have placed me here to open your eyes,” she said.
Sanford also complained about a scuffle between her supporters and supporters of Barlow on Election Day.

Barlow told The Panolian he wasn’t at the scene of the scuffle when it occurred.