If one vote is a victory, two votes are a margin.

A pair of ballots decided the race for the Lawrence County SchoolBoard’s District One seat in Tuesday’s election, with final countsconducted around noon Wednesday showing Jimmy Ray Hutchinsondefeating Ricky Sykes by a vote of 329-327. The split between thetwo candidates’ totals represented 0.24 percent – less thanone-quarter of 1 percent – of the 837 ballots cast in therace.

“That is squeaky close,” said Lawrence County Circuit Clerk SandyBrister.

Brister said both candidates are well known and well liked by theircommunity, where they live as next-door neighbors. Hutchinson is a16-year career agent with Farm Bureau, and Sykes is a former coachand teacher at Lawrence County High School.

“In a little rural county like Lawrence, popularity goes a longway,” Brister said. “They’re both super-good guys.”

Hutchinson lead by a mere eight votes after all electronic andabsentee ballots were counted Tuesday night, with Sykes making upground during Wednesday’s tallying of more than 100 provisionalballots.

With the race so close, Sykes has the right to challenge theresults and request a recount. It is unclear if he will do so. Hecould not be reached for comment Thursday morning.

“He called me before they counted the affidavits and congratulatedme, but that was before he made up ground,” Hutchinson said. “Idon’t think he will (request a recount), but I don’t want to claimvictory yet.”

Hutchinson said he felt fortunate to win such a close race, callinghis election a contest between “two great candidates.” Nowpreparing to assume his position on the school board, he goes inknowing the district faces tough decisions ahead with staterevenues still lagging.

“One person can’t change everything. I’m going in with an openmind,” Hutchinson said.

The late affidavit count in Lawrence County didn’t change any otherraces.

District Two incumbent school board member Maxie Boutwell extendedhis lead over challenger L. Parkman Evans slightly, finalizing hiswin by 38 ballots on a vote of 397-359. Boutwell’s lead before theprovisional ballots were counted was 31 votes.

Late counting in Franklin County finally decided the winner of aschool board race in that county, with incumbent Gloria S. Hayesdefeating challenger LaTasha Brown-Holmes by a vote of 247-221.