Vanessa Dietz/Daily Mining Gazette Ontonagon County Board could have a new chairman, if a recount of votes for current chair, John Pelkola, upholds the original results that he lost his re-election bid by two votes. Pictured from the left, at a board meeting earlier this year are commissioners Carl Nykanen, Gray Webber, Richard Bourdeaux, Pelkola and County Clerk Stacy Preiss.

HOUGHTON – Ontonagon County Board Chairman John Pelkola filed a recount request over the close general election results for his seat in the race he narrowly lost to newcomer David Nykanen.

The recount has been scheduled for Dec. 1 and will be conducted by the county canvassing board.

Republican Nykanen beat Democrat Pelkola by just one vote, 318 to 317, in the Nov. 8 election. The original results were 318 to 316.

“They found another vote somewhere,” Pelkola said Friday evening, adding he’s been on the county board since 1992 and chairman for the past several years. “People encouraged me to get a recount.”

Pelkola filed the recount request Tuesday.

The successful candidate will represent southeastern Ontonagon County’s 3rd District in Stannard, Interior and Haight townships.

Nykanen is the brother of District 4 Commissioner Carl Nykanen.