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Kelly passes Oh as Council count continues

Republican City Councilman Jack Kelly took a 140-vote lead over challenger David Oh yesterday after absentee ballots were tallied, but more than 1,400 other ballots have to be counted before the race is decided.

The Board of Elections reported yesterday that 771 absentee, alternative and military ballots came in for Kelly, with 624 for Oh. Absentee ballots are used by voters who can't be in town on Election Day; alternative ballots are for elderly and handicapped voters who can't get to the polls.

Oh led Kelly by seven votes in the official machine count; the 147-vote margin in absentee ballots gave Kelly the lead by 140. The two GOP candidates are battling for one of two at-large Council seats reserved for the minority party. Councilman Frank Rizzo was elected to the other one.

Still remaining are more than 1,400 provisional ballots - given to voters who show up at the polls but are not listed at the polling place. The count is expected to continue through next week.

- Jeff Shields