A provincial court has denied a request for a vote recount in a tight Saanich council race.
Rishi Sharma, who had requested the judicial recount, lost by just 11 votes to Teale Phelps-Bondaroff during the municipal election on Oct. 15.
The District of Saanich announced on its website Tuesday that the provincial court decided a recount was not required.
“The District of Saanich would like to thank all candidates for their participation and officially congratulate our new mayor and council as they embark on this next term,” Saanich Chief Election Officer Angila Bains said in a statement.
Phelps-Bondaroff secured the eighth and final spot on Saanich council with 9,218 votes. Sharma had 9,207.
Sharma had told the Times Colonist he wanted to be the first South Asian elected to Saanich council since the municipality was incorporated in 1906.
Phelps-Bondaroff was one of two new councillors elected, along with Mena Westhaver. Six other incumbent councillors won re-election, while Dean Murdock defeated incumbent mayor Fred Haynes by just 152 votes.
About 31% of eligible voters cast ballots in Saanich.
The new mayor and council will be sworn in Nov. 7.
