Holts Summit will hold a special meeting April 25 to vote on a proclamation of a special election for a tied Ward 2 alderman race, the city announced Wednesday.
Candidates Lisa Buhr and Chris Redel received 35 votes apiece during the April 2 municipal election.
A coin flip had been planned April 9 to break the tie, but Buhr called off the tie-breaker due to concerns over a discrepancy in vote totals and that proper procedures had not been followed by the Callaway County clerk's office.
Callaway County Clerk Rhonda Miller said a special election will cost Holts Summit at least $1,200.
Holts Summit received word from Buhr around noon Wednesday that she would like to participate in a special election, according to a news release from the city.
Once Holts Summit approves the proclamation of a special election, the city will contact the Callaway County clerk's office to establish a date for the election.
"The last thing I want to do is cost the city more money," Buhr said in a news release Tuesday. "However, I feel compelled to uphold our voting processes. While I am not concerned that anything unethical has occurred, both the Holts Summit interim city administrator and the Callaway County clerk have never seen a tie in an election before. It is important that the people in these positions follow the process outlined in Missouri statute and be held accountable to their constituents."
Redel said he does not want the expense to come to the city for an election but, if a coin flip or other tie-breaker is not possible, a special election is the only option.
Redel does not believe the issues Buhr has cited as reasons to request a special election would affect the vote total of the April 2 election, he added, so he does not agree with the decision. Redel said he is unaware of any procedures that have not been followed.