Markowitz wins by 10 votes to remain clerk, Bailey expected to petition for recount
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Nov. 13 — At some point today (Monday), the Page County Electoral Board will officially certify the 2023 election — at least at the local level. The ballot information must still be sent electronically to Richmond, where the Virginia Department of Elections will review the data just after Thanksgiving. However, there is at least one Page County race that still may not be settled.
With all five magisterial precincts reporting on Election Night, independent incumbent Grayson Markowitz retained his role as clerk of the circuit court for another eight years by a mere 14 votes — and that’s among 8,696 ballots cast in a four-way race. When provisional ballots were counted — the “6th” precinct — 48 votes were added in the clerk’s race. While it didn’t change the position of any of the four candidates, it did edge former clerk staffer Kim Bailey four votes closer to the “winner.”
The final difference between the top two candidates in the clerk’s race was 10 votes — or just over one-tenth of 1 percent of the ballots cast.
Virginia elections do not mandate automatic recounts, regardless of the margin of victory. A candidate has 10 days from the day the votes are certified to petition the court for a recount. Since the local electoral board is certifying the local count today — Monday, Nov. 13 — the 10-day window would extend to Thursday, Nov. 23, Thanksgiving. Due to the holiday, the window for the recount petition is expected to extend to Monday, Nov. 27. Once the court receives the petition, a judge will rule on whether to allow the recount , and if the judge rules in favor, the judge would then set a date for the recount.
Bailey indicated on Friday in an email to Page Valley News that she did intend to pursue a petition for a recount, and had already contacted an attorney. Page County Voter Registrar Carol Gaunt also confirmed that Bailey had contacted her office by email regarding a recount as well.
“I’ve risked so much and worked too hard to not follow this process to the end,” the 17-year staff member of the clerk’s office stated.
With the updated numbers reflecting provisional ballots, the total vote being certified today in the clerk’s race stands as follows:
- 2,444 — Grayson Markowitz, 27.89%
- 2,434 — Kim Bailey, 27.78%
- 2,046 — Stephanie Breeden, 23.35%
- 1,820 — Shirron Ballard, 20.77%
While Markowitz did well in Districts 1 and 2, Bailey won Districts 3, 4 and 5. Districts 4 and 5 almost mirrored each other. Here’s a breakdown of the close count by magisterial district:
DISTRICT 1
- 668 — Grayson Markowitz, 40%
- 392 — Stephanie Breeden, 23.5%
- 310 — Shirron Ballard, 18.6%
- 294 — Kim Bailey, 17.6%
DISTRICT 2
- 633 — Grayson Markowitz, 34.4%
- 479 — Stephanie Breeden, 26%
- 371 — Shirron Ballard, 20.2%
- 356 — Kim Bailey, 19.4%
DISTRICT 3
- 701 — Kim Bailey, 33.9%
- 512 — Stephanie Breeden, 24.7%
- 444 — Shirron Ballard, 21.5%
- 411 — Grayson Markowitz, 19.9%
DISTRICT 4
- 548 — Kim Bailey, 34.2%
- 388 — Grayson Markowitz, 24.2%
- 343 — Shirron Ballard, 21.4%
- 320 — Stephanie Breeden, 20%
DISTRICT 5
- 523 — Kim Bailey, 33.9%
- 348 — Shirron Ballard, 22.6%
- 336 — Grayson Markowitz, 21.8%
- 330 — Stephanie Breeden, 21.4%
Gaunt also reported that a few mail-in ballots were being added on Monday, the final deadline to receive them. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 7 — Election Day — and received by the registrar’s office by Friday, Nov. 10. However, since Friday was a holiday (recognizing Veterans Day), Monday serves as the official deadline. The county registrar said that the late mail-ins are “in the single digits…not many.”
“The numbers may change a little once we complete the canvas today, but it shouldn’t be enough to change any outcomes,” Gaunt told PVN on Monday.
Gaunt said that while the race for a vacated seat on the Shenandoah Council came down to a difference of only 51 votes, she does not expect a recount to be requested in that race. PCHS faculty member Chris Reisinger won the seat, 395 to 346, over Brenda Frazier Hagget. Adding provisional ballots increased the margin of victory for Reisinger by two votes.
Adding provisional votes shrunk the margin in the sheriff’s race, but only by three votes. Incumbent Chad Cubbage won re-election to a third, four-year term by a final margin of 348 votes over Aaron Cubbage.
Provisional ballots added five votes for each candidate in the District 2 race for the board of supervisors. Incumbent Allen Louderback’s margin of victory remained at 129, over challenger Paula Kibler (953 to 824).
Final ballots cast in the 2023 election in Page County edged up to 9,260 for a final voter turnout of 53.7 percent.
Check Page County election results by CLICKING HERE.
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