Pending official certification later of the election result, Lillios’ margin of victory over retired Oak Grove Elementary School principal Melvin “Teddy” Bryson stands at 802 to 800.
Lillios had received 801 votes during last Thursday’s election to Bryson’s 800.
Of the four provisional ballots opened Monday, only one included the District 3 school board race. Officials originally thought all four ballots had included the Lillios-Bryson contest.
Officials said Thursday the provisionals were cast because of a lack of voter identification. Voters who had cast the ballots were required to bring proper identification into the office which would allow the ballots to be counted. One ballot was not completed and could not be counted, according to officials.
Bradley County election commissioners set Aug. 15 as the date to certify last Thursday’s elections. In a gathering held late Monday, the commission also began preparations for the November Presidential Preference after the provisional ballot boxes were opened.
“Many people will be counting on me — those who did or did not vote for me,” Lillios said. “All the votes count in this case, and I appreciate each and every effort made by the voters.”
He added, “I plan to make all, whether they voted for me or not, proud of their Bradley County School Board.”
Lillios said finances will be a big challenge for the future of the schools.
“I will work to help stretch every dollar,” he said.
Lillios attended the opening of the provisional boxes, but Bryson was not present.
“I wish Bradley County Schools good luck and wish Nicholas Lillios well in his future endeavors,” Bryson said today in a phone interview.
Remaining races for the upcoming Nov. 2 elections include the U.S. Senate, U.S. House District 3 and 4, Tennessee Senate District 10, and Tennessee House of Representatives Districts 22 and 24, as well as the Presidential Preference.
