Graham’s victory over Smith not threatened by absentees

Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham’s lead over Councilman Jeffrey M. Smith in the city mayoral contest diminished by only four votes after the Board of Elections counted absentee ballots, sealing Mr. Graham’s fifth victory on Nov. 8.

The final vote tally after absentees were counted signaled a victory for Mr. Graham, 2,137 to 1,969. Mr. Graham won every district except the one that Mr. Smith once represented on the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors in the early 1990s, though Mr. Smith kept it close in the north, considered Mr. Graham’s stronghold. Only 4,115 city voters cast ballots in the race, fewer than a third of the 13,461 registered voters in the city, according to Board of Elections results that are still uncertified.

Mr. Graham won in District 12, the southwest part of the city, 781-709.

“That’s always considered the battleground,” Mr. Graham said. “To win there usually means you win the election.”

Mr. Graham said he concentrated much of his electoral effort on that part of the city.

Mr. Smith won District 13 with a vote of 622-598. He had home field advantage there. Though he lives on Keyes Avenue in District 12, he grew up in District 13 and was familiar with many of the people there because of his term on the Board of Supervisors.

Mr. Smith held his own in District 15. He earned 462 votes to Mr. Graham’s 474 votes. Mr. Graham lives in District 15; support from Jayme M. St. Croix and his family may have helped keep Mr. Smith close there, Mr. Graham said.

Hindsight is 20/20, Mr. Smith said, but he’s proud of the campaign he ran.

“I didn’t go negative at all,” he said. “I spoke about issues and facts and didn’t distort anything.”

Turnout has dropped considerably over the past 20 years in the city. In 1987, about three-quarters of the registered voters at the time — 7,768 — voted. Now, only one of three votes.

“I think it’s sad regardless of the outcome that people aren’t out there voting,” Mr. Smith said. “I don’t know how you change that.”

The mayor’s outlook on the turnout was more resigned.

“Sometimes people don’t vote because they either feel it doesn’t matter or they feel things are going fine,” Mr. Graham said.