It's official: Terry Withrow won the open seat on the Stanislaus County Board Supervisors, defeating heavily favored former state Agriculture Secretary Bill Lyons.
The Stanislaus County clerk's office on Wednesday finished counting 1,500 provisional ballots that could have swayed the race.
In the end, Withrow had 5,264 votes, or 50.24 percent. Lyons garnered 5,181 votes, or 49.45 percent.
They competed for a seat on the board held by Jeff Grover, who did not seek re-election and endorsed Lyons.
On June 8, election night, Lyons was ahead in results released by the clerk's office. Withrow gained an 81-vote lead three days later as the clerk's office processed about 20,000 absentee ballots.
Lyons said he talked with his campaign opponent Tuesday night. "I told him if he won I would support him and the work he does with the community," Lyons said. "Now that it's final, I will continue that offer to support him and wish him all the best."
Withrow did not return phone calls from The Bee to his home Tuesday night.
Lyons spent $320,000 on his campaign, more than triple what Withrow raised for the race.
But Withrow, a Republican, was helped by a primary ballot that benefited GOP candidates.
Lyons is a Democrat who served as secretary of agriculture under Gov. Davis. Democrats in Stanislaus County had little reason to vote June 8, whereas Republicans had competitive races for governor, U.S. Senate, state Assembly, state Senate and Congress.
Bee Assistant City Editor Adam Ashton can be reached at aashton@modbee. com or 578-2366.
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