Peter Murphy, Yusuf Hakeem headed for runoff because of write-in votes
A two-man race will be decided in a runoff, thanks to a handful of write-in votes.
The election for the District 9 City Council seat between Councilman Peter Murphy and former Councilman Yusuf Hakeem ended with neither candidate scoring more than 50 percent plus one of votes cast.
Hakeem, who represented District 9 between 1990 and 2006, received 1,030 votes.
Murphy, an attorney who was voted to his first term in 2009, received 1,024 votes.
Hakeem would have had a majority had there not been seven write-in votes cast in the race. The votes were enough to prevent Hakeem from claiming the 50 percent plus one vote total of 1,031 to win.
In fact, Hakeem was one vote short of winning.
There is a possibility provisional ballots could impact the outcome of this race, preventing a runoff. But it is unknown at this time whether ther eare any provisional ballots in District 9.
A runoff election between Murphy and Hakeem would be April 9. The winner will be sworn in as the next councilman for District 9 on April 15 and serve a four-year term.
District 9 covers areas of East Chattanooga, Eastdale, Glenwood, Missionary Ridge, Highland Park and Ridgedale.
This is a developing story. Nooga.com will have updates as they become available.
Updated @ 3:45 p.m. on 4/9/13 to correct a factual error: The new city government leaders will be sworn into their posts April 15, not April 19, as originally reported.
