By STEPHEN DAWKINS

Staff Writer

HOOVER – Five votes was too few for Jason DeLuca to not ask for a recount.

DeLuca, who ran for Hoover City Council Place 6 in the Aug. 23 election, received five fewer votes that Casey Middlebrooks.

DeLuca said he emailed a formal request for a recount Aug. 31.

“I think everybody, even my opponent, would agree that after another look, there’s no question of who has won,” DeLuca said. “That wouldn’t be hanging over everybody’s heads.”

The recount will be conducted Sept. 2 at Hoover City Hall, City Clerk Margie Handley said.

More than 13,000 ballots will be counted again, even those that do not include a vote for either DeLuca or Middlebrooks.

The estimated cost of the process to the city is $3,800.

If the result of the election does not change and Middlebrooks is determined to indeed have received more votes, DeLuca will have to pay for the recount.

If DeLuca ends up with more votes, the city will absorb the cost.

DeLuca said he has already dropped off a check for $3,800 at City Hall as a security payment.

On the day of the election, Middlebrooks was announced to have received 6,212 to 6,203.

Six of 22 provisional ballots casts were ruled eligible, and five of the six votes were for DeLuca, bringing margin of votes even closer—to five.

DeLuca had 48 hours after the results were canvassed the morning of Aug. 28 to request a recount.

“That was something we thought was worth a second look,” DeLuca said.

The next closest race in this year’s municipal election was for Place 2 on the council, which incumbent Gene Smith won over challenger Sam Swiney by a count of 6,200 to 6,176.