After more than two weeks of election night overtime, Robert
Scattini can finally toast a victory.
After more than two weeks of election night overtime, Robert Scattini can finally toast a victory.
Scattini will now be known as “Councilman Scattini” around City Hall circles, as the elections office certified him Friday as winner of the District 2 Hollister City Council race.
The final vote count of 482-462 increased Scattini’s election night edge of four votes to a 20-vote margin.
“I want to thank the people for putting the trust and faith in me,” Scattini said.
He did not trail once during the counting process, however, and only on the final election night summary did Corrales creep close.
The two and a half weeks since have included election officials counting absentee ballots and completing the canvassing process.
Canvassing, where officials hand-count returns from random polling places, was completed Friday.
If Corrales does not request a re-count, it would end her four years on Council. A re-count must be financed by the candidate. She has until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to make her decision.
Corrales did not return phone calls before press time.
As of now, Scattini will be sworn in during a special City Council meeting in the coming weeks. If Corrales wants the re-count, the swearing in would be delayed.
Neither Scattini nor County Clerk John Hodges doubted the results at any point after election night. Hodges said the tabulating machines are usually accurate and already proclaimed an unofficial Scattini victory a week ago.
Scattini said he felt confident but never sure about victory.
“You never know with elections,” he said.
