The election results for the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors seat in the Battlefield District remained unchanged following a recount on Tuesday.
Incumbent and current board chair Chris Yakabouski held on to his position by 16 votes over challenger Baron Braswell.
Braswell hung out at the courthouse to watch the process, while Yakabouski dropped in briefly before he had to leave to attend a board of supervisors meeting.
During a board of supervisors’ recess, the opponents had a cordial conversation, with Braswell acknowledging defeat.
Yakabouski finished with 3,913 votes compared to Braswell’s 3,897. Yakabouski posted a message to his Facebook page thanking Braswell for a hard-fought, but respectful campaign.
“Sometimes politics — no change that to — usually politics is dirty, nasty, and mean, filled with messages either borderline lying or full-fledged lying, coming directly to your mailbox or TV screen or any other way politicians get their message to the voters,” Yakabouski wrote. “But not this time. Not this race. I hope more people will take note and realize that running a campaign based on the issues and a positive message for the voters can be done.”
Though Braswell said that in hindsight he could’ve done some things differently, he’s not filled with regret. Rather, he’s at peace because “I feel like I put up my best effort.”
He said after watching the recount proceedings up close, “I’m convinced we have a pretty solid electoral system.”
Braswell, the former chair of the Spotsylvania School Board and executive pastor at Beulah Baptist Church in the southern part of the county, said he’ll weigh his future in politics by leaning on his faith.
“After a loss, it’s really hard,” Braswell said. “It’s like a boxer. He loses a fight, and he’s talking about he’s ready to retire. I don’t want to make that mistake yet because I’ll be lying if I said it’s not in me. I’ll wait on the Lord to give me the right direction on that, and I’ll take it from there.”
