By Dawn Krebs
dkrebs@hometownnewsol.com
FORT PIERCE - While both the Fort Pierce City Commission race and the race for mayor were supposed to be decided in August, the closeness of the votes in those contests gave voters another chance to pick their candidates.
The voters re-elected Reggie Sessions over R. Duke Nelson for Fort Pierce City Commissioner District 1 on Nov. 6.
Mr. Sessions received 3,720 votes, or 67.26 percent, to Mr. Nelson's 1,811 votes, or 32.74 percent.
The two candidates' competition for the seat dates back to 1993, when Mr. Sessions first defeated Mr. Nelson, who was at that time the incumbent. Since then, the position has passed back and forth between the two men.
In August, Mr. Sessions received 1,136 votes, or 49.05 percent to Mr. Nelson's 686 or 29.62 percent. But because Mr. Sessions did not receive more than 50 percent of the vote, the two gentlemen had to face off in November for a final decision.
The case was the same for the Fort Pierce mayor's race, which first had six candidates running for the spot.
After the August primary, the race was narrowed to two: Vince Gaskin and Linda Hudson.
But the November election was even closer, with only five votes separating the two candidates.
In the November race, Mr. Gaskin received 6,653 votes or 50.02 percent to Ms. Hudson's 6,648 votes or 49.98 percent.
A recount of some of the early voting ballots then showed Ms. Hudson with 6,915 votes, or 50.22 percent - more votes than Mr. Gaskin who tallied 6,854 votes, or 49.78 percent, a difference of 61 votes. Because the difference is still less than one half of one percent, a final recount of the votes is expected to take place on Nov. 14, after this issue goes to press.
The eventual winner will replace current Mayor Bob Benton.