WINFIELD,W.Va. - A recount in Putnam County's circuit judge race on Tuesday showed that lawyer Phil Stowers is indeed the winner.

Circuit Judge Ed Eagloski requested a recount in four of Putnam's 48 precincts last week, after narrowly losing his re-election bid earlier this month.

County officials completed a recount in two counties on Tuesday, in which Stowers gained four votes.

Following the announcement of the results Tuesday evening, Eagloski decided not to continue with the recount in the remaining two precincts.

Eagloski, the Republican incumbent, lost to Stowers by 351 votes. Stowers had 12,085 votes to Eagloski's 11,734.

Eagloski requested recounts in precincts 6-1, 6-2, 8-1 and 8-2. The precincts are located at Hurricane Middle School and Conner Street Elementary School.

Clerks completed recounts in precincts 6-1 and 6-2 Tuesday, totaling 1,881 votes.

In precinct 6-1, Stowers gained one vote, and in precinct 6-2, Stowers gained three votes.

Eagloski said Tuesday afternoon he decided to pursue a recount because of an "anomaly" on election night, in which paper absentee ballots were duplicated in the election totals.

"Based upon this anomaly I feel the voters of Putnam County should have their votes verified," Eagloski said.

Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood said absentee paper ballots were duplicated on election night.

There were about 400 absentee ballots sent in, he said.

WINFIELD,W.Va. - A recount in Putnam County's circuit judge race on Tuesday showed that lawyer Phil Stowers is indeed the winner.

Circuit Judge Ed Eagloski requested a recount in four of Putnam's 48 precincts last week, after narrowly losing his re-election bid earlier this month.

County officials completed a recount in two counties on Tuesday, in which Stowers gained four votes.

Following the announcement of the results Tuesday evening, Eagloski decided not to continue with the recount in the remaining two precincts.

Eagloski, the Republican incumbent, lost to Stowers by 351 votes. Stowers had 12,085 votes to Eagloski's 11,734.

Eagloski requested recounts in precincts 6-1, 6-2, 8-1 and 8-2. The precincts are located at Hurricane Middle School and Conner Street Elementary School.

Clerks completed recounts in precincts 6-1 and 6-2 Tuesday, totaling 1,881 votes.

In precinct 6-1, Stowers gained one vote, and in precinct 6-2, Stowers gained three votes.

Eagloski said Tuesday afternoon he decided to pursue a recount because of an "anomaly" on election night, in which paper absentee ballots were duplicated in the election totals.

"Based upon this anomaly I feel the voters of Putnam County should have their votes verified," Eagloski said.

Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood said absentee paper ballots were duplicated on election night.

There were about 400 absentee ballots sent in, he said.

The mistake was found almost immediately after the election, Wood said. The Secretary of State's office was contacted about the mistake, he said.

"That's why the results on election night are unofficial," Wood said.

The mistake did not affect any candidates' election and was fixed for canvassing, Wood said.

"I would be a lot more nervous if I wasn't confident with the numbers," he said.

"The purpose [of the recount] is to make sure votes were counted," Eagloski said. "I do not believe it will impact the results of the election."

Following the suspension of the recount, the County Commission certified the election.

Two teams of four people, with two Democrats and two Republicans on each team, did the recount. Wood, the county commissioners, Stowers and Eagloski oversaw the process.

"I just want the voters to be confident this was a fair election, and that I'm their elected judge," Stowers said.

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