Thorne Bay’s recall election remains too close to call pending absentee votes

A recall election that could oust nearly half of Thorne Bay’s city council appears too close to call.

As of Wednesday, July 1, preliminary returns from 114 in-person votes to recall Council Members Eric Rhodes, Roger Longbotham and Rosalyn Hert are ahead by between 10 and 20 votes. But nearly 100 absentee ballots remain to be counted.

Officials are set to tally absentee and questioned ballots starting at 5 p.m. Friday, July 3.

A citizens group filed the recall petition against three of seven city council members over dissatisfaction with the recent ousting of Thorne Bay’s city administrator.