The Salem City Council held a Special Meeting on Monday, June 7, 2021 at Salem City Hall, 229 W. Main St. Salem, WV.
Mayor Robert Samples called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. Mayor Samples asked for a volunteer to do the blessing. The blessing was given by Mayor Samples.
Mayor Samples called for roll call. PRESENT: Council Member, John Sinnett, Council Member Shawnette Stout, Council Member, John Golden, Council Member Isaac Samples, City Manager Ronnie Davis
ABSENT: Council Member Nancy Siders, Council Member Annette Gibson, City Attorney Sam Harrold
Council Member Isaac Samples made a motion to set the bond for any requested recounts at $300. Council Member John Sinnett seconded the motion. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Samples – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
Council Members Isaac Samples, John Golden, Shawnette Stout, and John Sinnett started the Election Canvassing by counting the voted ballots along with ballot stubs and poll slips for Ward 1 which contained the Mayor’s race and one Council Seat. It was confirmed that there were 56 votes cast in Ward 1.
City Clerk Kayla Nicholas presented Council Members with one absentee voter’s provisional ballot from Ward 1. The reason for the provisional ballot was because the voter did not fill out the absentee ballot application himself but signed it. There was no signature on “Oath of Voter’s Assistant”. It was determined that when the voter sent in his ballot, he filled out the envelope himself and therefore Council agreed to count the voter’s ballot. A motion was made by Council Member Isaac Samples to count the provisional ballot. The motion was seconded by Council Member John Golden. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Samples – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
Once the Provisional Ballot had been counted for Ward 1, Bobby Samples had received 1 additional vote for Mayor bringing the total for him to 32 and Linda Stuart had received 1 additional vote for Council Member bringing the total for her to 38 and the overall total of ballots cast to 57.
Council Members Isaac Samples, John Golden, Shawnette Stout, and John Sinnett continued the Election Canvassing by counting the voted ballots along with ballot stubs and poll slips for Ward 2 which contained the Mayor’s race and one Council Seat. It was confirmed that there were 50 votes cast in Ward 2.
City Clerk Kayla Nicholas presented Council Members with one absentee voter’s provisional ballot from Ward 2. The reason for the provisional ballot was because the voter did not fill out the absentee ballot application himself but signed it. There was no signature on “Oath of Voter’s Assistant”. It was determined that when the voter sent in his ballot, he filled out the envelope himself and therefore Council agreed to count the voter’s ballot. A motion was made by Council Member John Sinnett to count the provisional ballot. The motion was seconded by Council Member Shawnette Stout. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Samples – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
Once the Provisional Ballot had been counted for Ward 2, Bobby Samples had received 1 additional vote for Mayor bringing the total for him to 34 and John Golden had received 1 additional vote for Council Member bringing the total for him to 41 and the overall total of ballots cast to 51.
Council Members Isaac Samples, John Golden, Shawnette Stout, and John Sinnett continued the Election Canvassing by counting the voted ballots along with ballot stubs and poll slips for Ward 3 which contained the Mayor’s race and one Council Seat. It was confirmed that there were 61 votes cast in Ward 3.
City Clerk Kayla Nicholas presented Council Members with three provisional ballots from Ward 3. The reasons for the provisional ballots were that the voters were not in the pollbooks. It was determined that there was no way to tell if these voters were eligible voters of the City and their votes would not be counted. A motion was made by Council Member Shawnette Stout to not count the three provisional ballots in Ward 3. The motion was seconded by Council Member John Golden. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Samples – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
A motion was made by Council Member John Sinnett declaring the results: for Council Member in Ward 1, Linda Stuart received 38 votes and Marie Kaltenbach received 13 votes; for Council Member in Ward 2, John Golden received 41; for Council Member in Ward 3, Write-in Candidate Crystal Gaskins received 24; and for Mayor in all three wards Bobby Samples received 96 votes and Annette Gibson received 72 votes. The motion was seconded by Council Member Isaac Samples. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Samples – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
Mayor Samples called for a 48-hour recess at which time the Board of Canvassers will reconvene and certify the election results pending that a recount is not requested.
The special meeting went into recess at 7:10 pm.