The final margain of victory between the two candidates for Family Court Judge had been eleven votes before last Thursday’s recanvass. After the votes were totaled up again, the margain went down to an even-thinner four votes between the winner and loser.

But the winner remains the same, as Campton attorney and former Circuit Court Judge Larry Miller defeated Jackson attorney and City Councilmember Patrick O’Neill in that race, which involved Breathitt, Wolfe and Powell Counties - the 39th Judicial District, Division 2.

The final total district-wide shows Miller with 4,757 votes to O’Neill’s 4,753 votes. Again, the margain of victory for Miller this time was four votes. The original totals from the November 6th General Election had Miller winning district-wide by eleven votes. Miller was out on top with 4,774 votes to O’Neill’s 4,763 votes.

It was Powell County that saw the margain shrink for Miller this time. The County Court Clerk’s Office in Stanton got off to a late start in the recanvass, which began at 9 a.m. Once they were totaled up, O’Neill remained the winner there with 1,839 votes to Miller’s 1,269 votes. In the recanvass, it was Miller who lost 20 votes while O’Neill’s total remained the same.

In Wolfe County, the recanvass by the County Court Clerk’s Office in Campton showed Miller still winning his home county with 1,656 votes, to O’Neill’s 668. According to the office in Wolfe County, Miller gained three votes in the tally, while O’Neill lost ten votes - a 13-vote difference.

As for Breathitt County, the totals tallied by the County Court Clerk’s Office in Jackson remained exactly the same. O’Neill carried the county with 2,246 votes to Miller’s 1,832 votes - no change from the totals first counted on Election Night, November 6th.

The even-closer margain of victory had many courthouse workers amazed. “I just shows how important it is to vote on Election Day, and that your vote counts,” said a Powell County Court Clerk’s Office worker via telephone from Stanton Monday. And what about the next question - another count? “As far as we know, there won’t be another recanvass or a recount,” said an employee of the Breathitt County Court Clerk’s Office Monday afternoon.

Unless things change, Miller will go on to be sworn in this January to the newly-created position that was made possible by outgoing Governor Ernie Fletcher. The job of Family Court Judge will handles cases pertaining to child support, custody, and domestic violence and other family issues. O’Neill will continue to serve as a member of the Jackson City Council.