Nov 8, 2017 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Every vote counts.

That certainly is the case in the Greene County coroner’s race as Democratic incumbent Gregory Rohanna now holds a one-vote leader over his Republican challenger Gene Rush after all absentee ballots were tallied by the county elections staff Wednesday morning.

Rohanna, who has served as coroner since 1996, trailed Rush by eight votes after Tuesday night’s election, but the 228 absentee ballots that had yet to be included in the overall count barely swung his way to give him the single-vote lead that put him ahead.

The race is hardly over, however.

Greene County Elections Director Tina Kiger said her staff will canvass all votes Friday for an official count and then send those final totals to the Greene County elections board – composed of the three county commissioners – to authorize. That is expected to happen next Wednesday or Thursday, after which anyone can challenge within five days, which would trigger a recount.

“It could change again,” Kiger said of the final canvass.

The absentee ballots, which were opened and counted at each precinct Tuesday night and then transported to the elections office, will be analyzed for voter intent or mistakes. There also are two provisional ballots and another absentee that will be counted during the canvass Friday, Kiger said.

Kiger is “assuming” there will be a recount with such a close election.

“I’ve been here for 23 years and, yes, I’ve never seen one this close for one of the bigger (county) offices,” Kiger said.

Rohanna, 59, of Jefferson, now has 3,352 votes to the 3,351 votes for Rush, 69, of Rogersville.

Rush said he would have no comment on the election until “things are done.”

Rohanna could not be reached for comment Wednesday.