Count reverses election results

UPPER POTTSGROVE » From now on, candidates Renee Spaide and Tyrone Robinson can both assure anyone who asks that indeed every vote counts.

Officials at the Montgomery County Board of Elections have confirmed that the official tabulation of all votes has reversed the results of the Nov. 7 township commissioners’ race.

On election night, Robinson appeared to have won the election by two votes, according to unofficial results.

Now, after the official vote tabulation, he has been replaced by Spaide, who has now officially won the election by the same

margin — two votes.

The tabulated results show each candidate on the ballot picked up additional votes over the unofficial results.

However, Robinson only picked up one vote and Spaide picked up five.

So too did Commissioner Martin Schreiber, who was the only incumbent in the race and remained the highest vote-getter.

Trace Slinkerd saw his vote total rise from 424 to 428 and Gloria Parker’s total rose from 371 to 372.

Robinson, who was informed of the reversal by a Digital First Media reporter, said he is “disheartened.” “I’ve been doing my homework, getting prepared for my new position,” said Robinson, who was asking questions from the audience during Monday night’s commissioners meeting.

“This was a long road and I know lots of people were excited to bring some changes to the board, for things to be done more out in the open,” he said.

Robinson said he was also disappointed because he was not only the first Democrat to be elected in Upper Pottsgrove in recent memory, but “also, to my knowledge, the first African-American.”

Spaide said she spoke Robinson first on election night to congratulate him and again Wednesday after he called her to return the courtesy.

“The biggest thing I heard from people on Election Day was that they wanted change,” said Spaide.

Although she had heard from people telling her the official count would make her the winner, Spaide said she wanted to wait until it was official.

“I was pleasantly surprised” when she confirmed the final results, she said.

She also praised Robinson and said when spoke to him Wednesday, “I urged him to stay involved with the township. We need people like him.”

DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA FILE PHOTO GOP candidates Diane DeLong, unopposed for tax collector, and commissioner candidates Renee Spaide and Martin Schreiber meet voters inside Pottsgrove Middle School on Election Day.

DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA FILE PHOTO Democratic Upper Pottsgrove Township Commissioner candidates Tyrone Robinson and Gloria Parker meet voters outside Pottsgrove Middle School on Election Day.