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Leighty had about 34 percent of the vote, while Cook had 24 percent of the vote. Shamy was also elected to the council with 21.1 percent of the vote, beating Ronald Cobb, who finished with 20.8 percent of the vote.
Six votes separated Shamy and Cobb, according to results. The margin was less than a half percent, which could trigger an automatic recount later this month, depending on provisional and remaining absentee ballots.
About 230 provisional ballots are left to be counted and another 260 postmarked absentee ballots could be returned to the Clark County Board of Elections later this week, Director Jason Baker said. The official count will be held by the board at 10 a.m. Nov. 20, he said.
“Once we get started going through these provisional (ballots) and see where they’re from, we’ll have more of an idea of where we are with that,” Baker said.
Two current city council members — Rick Lowrey and John Krabacher — didn’t seek re-election this year.
Election 2017: Find out who wants to run New Carlisle
Leighty was appointed to former member Lowell McGlothin’s seat earlier this year. Leighty was elected for the first time and was the leading vote-getter. He was thrilled Issue 4, the income tax change that could have cost the city $1 million annually, failed at the polls.
“I’m looking forward to continue serving my community and congratulations to all the new people elected. I’m looking forward to the new year,” Leighty said.
Cook is a retired firefighter and Clark County deputy who served one term in office in the 1970s. Cook thanked the voters for their support, as well as those who helped defeat Issue 4, he said.
“The city can continue on the path of trying to get back to where we as a city ought to be,” Cook said. “We’ve really got something to build on. We have to work on getting the trust of the citizens back.”
Cobb is a longtime resident and Shamy has lived in New Carlisle for the past 12 years. Both were first-time candidates.
The seven-member city council oversees a total budget of about $5.9 million with a general fund budget of about $1.4 million. It has more than 100 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees, including firefighters.
City council members serve four-year terms and earn about $4,800 annually.
2017 ELECTION COVERAGE
Election 2017: No problems in Clark County, turnout low
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