District 1 decided - or is it?

Perhaps the "every vote counts" mantra is cliche but you might want to ask District 1 Councilwoman Shanie Shields about that. The final count of five absentee votes remaining from the April 7th city election put Shanie on top by a 133-132 margin over challenger Cynthia Polk. Of course, the closeness of the margin dictates a recount and once in awhile there's a vote miscounted here or there.

What I wonder is if there is a recount, will occur in time to be complete for the swearing-in ceremony on Monday? That would be yet another bizarre chapter in Salisbury history if Shields is sworn in yet the recount finds Polk being the winner.

If not, then the question becomes whether Shields will stand by a remark she made earlier in the campaign and make this her last term. We have until 2013 to find out but given the razor-thin margins prevalent in that district recently, an election with no incumbent would certainly be a free-for-all.