SALISBURY — The race for the Salisbury seat on the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Board of Education is heading to a recount.

On Wednesday, Rowan County Board of Elections officials will hold a meeting at the elections office at 9 a.m. to formally conduct a recount between candidates Jonathan Barbee and Dr. Rebecca Childs.

The recount was requested by Barbee who filed paperwork on Monday calling for it. As of right now, Barbee trails Childs by less than a tenth of a percent. However, prior to last Thursday, Barbee was the one in the lead.

Following Election Day tallies, it appeared that Barbee was the victor. After the dust settled that day, Barbee held a narrow 39-vote lead over Childs, with 22,747 votes and 22,708 votes, respectively. 

That vote total would change after all the ballots were eventually counted. Rowan County Board of Elections Director Sharon Main said that they had 199 provisional ballots which were approved and counted in addition to approximately 400 absentee ballots that arrived on Election Day.

Following the influx of those ballots, Childs gained 211 votes. Meanwhile, Barbee only gained 128, resulting in a net swing of 83 votes, flipping the race from Barbee to Childs, the latter of whom now holds a 44-vote lead.

“I was very excited because I knew all the work that was put into the campaign from so many of the people in the community,” Childs said.

She also commended those who assisted in her campaign’s ground game.

“We did everything we could do to have a successful campaign,” Childs said.

Childs acknowledged that as is the case with any recount, there is always a chance for another change, but added that having observed the work of the Rowan County Board of Elections, she is confident that the process will be conducted with diligence.

For his part, Barbee stated back when it appeared as though he was the winner, that he would support a recount if Childs requested one out of interest for a “fair and transparent” process.

On Monday, he said that when he saw how close the totals were, he knew a recount would be likely, leading him to temper expectations until the results were certified. 

“This is not the first time this has happened,” Barbee said, before adding that it’s why he never officially posted a victory statement on Facebook. 

Barbee and Childs both signaled intent to be in attendance on Wednesday when the recount is conducted.