Politics & Government

Lincolnwood Trustee Candidate Loses Race, Then Wins By One Vote

Lincolnwood trustee candidate Ronald Cope lost to John Swanson by seven votes yesterday. Now, the Cook County Clerk's website is showing that Cope won - by one vote.

Independent candidate Ron Cope has been on a rollercoaster ride since yesterday's elections.

At roughly 8 p.m., he was up 17 votes over John Swanson, who was running under the newly formed Independent Party of Lincolnwood (IPOL). But there was a problem: 10 of the 11 precincts had reported and word was that one of the machines was down.

A little after 9 p.m., the final precinct was called and Swanson was named the victor, winning by a total of seven votes.

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Now, the tables have turned, and according to the Cook County Clerk's website, Cope has beaten Swanson by one vote. One.

Cope received 756 votes while Swanson received 755.

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"What are the chances of something like this happening," said newly reelected Lincolnwood Mayor Jerry Turry. "This does not happen. What are the chances?"

Turry said Cope acted like a gentleman when he thought he lost last night.

"He took it hard, but he understood these are things that happen in elections and I think everybody felt bad for him," Turry said. "Two years ago he lost by 35 votes."

Cope served as Lincolnwood's corporate counsel for 20 years before he decided to run as a trustee in 2013.

At this point, Swanson would have to request a recount with the Cook County Clerk's office.

"Your whole life you're told how important it is to vote, because it could come down to that one vote," Turry said. " All my life I heard those things, because it could be that one person that turns the tide. And now it's real in Lincolnwood."

As it stands right now, Cope, Larry Elster (IPOL) and Independent Craig Klatzco are Lincolnwood's newly elected trustees. Nine candidates campaigned for three spots on April 9. However, the votes have to be certified. 

If new details come in, Skokie Patch will update.

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