The notion that every vote counts rang true for Northwest Side Ald. Deb Mell Friday as she avoided a predicted runoff by a mere two votes.
Unofficial results released Friday showed Mell at 4,037 votes – only .03 percent over the 50 percent benchmark – of the 8,069 ballots cast in the 33rd Ward’s election.
Mell can thank late-arriving absentee ballots for the good news. The Election Board states absentee ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 23, but will be accepted until March 10.
Mell comes from a political family, and her father held the same position from 1975 to 2013, when he resigned and was replaced by his daughter.
Both Deb Mell and her father, Richard Mell, have 100 percent voting records in line with the mayor, but early voting numbers showed the ward preferred Jesus "Chuy" Garcia in Tuesday's mayoral race.
This means only 18 wards will be heading into a runoff for the aldermanic races, instead of the initially reported 19.
