LORAIN COUNTY — Jeff Riddell has officially won the Republican primary for Lorain County commissioner by just 18 votes, according to final results from the Lorain County Board of Elections.
Riddell received 9,707 votes, or 50.05%, while Will Schlechter received 9,689 votes, or 49.95%. All 210 precincts reported.
The razor-thin margin made the countywide race one of the closest contests on the May primary ballot. Early unofficial results had Riddell ahead by 17 votes before the final results slightly widened that lead to 18.
Riddell, who currently serves on the Lorain County Board of Commissioners, now advances as the Republican nominee for the November general election.
He will face Carolyn White, who won the Democratic primary for county commissioner over Brian Baker.
The winner in November will serve on the three-member Lorain County Board of Commissioners, which oversees county operations, budgets and major decisions affecting residents across Lorain County.
