SOUTHPORT — The Brunswick County Board of Elections received a recount request Monday morning for a seat in Southport’s aldermen ward 1 race.
READ MORE: Hatem prepares return as Southport mayor, infrastructure top of mind
Mike Crosbie — an unaffiliated first-time candidate — came in fourth place with 25.33% of the vote, behind incumbent Robert Carroll, also unaffiliated, who secured 25.58% of the vote, according to the North Carolina Board of Elections results. Crosbie sent his formal recount letter to Sara Lavere, the Brunswick County Board of Elections executive director.
Lavere confirmed the BOE is recounting 2,088 ballots in Southport. North Carolina state law allows a candidate to request a recount when the spread between two voters is separated by 1% of the total number of ballots cast. With the 2K calculation, it puts the disparity between Crosbie and Carroll at 20.88 votes to or less for a recount; the two candidates are separated by nine.
Crosbie told Port City Daily his constituents, friends and family have supported him to request the recount. After the initial Election Night tallies, separating the two candidates by 12, the votes dropped further to nine, solidifying his decision. Crosbie said he owed it to his supporters to ensure accuracy.
“I have no specific reason to believe that there are any inaccuracies in the tally other than there is always a potential for error,” he wrote. “It could take as little as five votes to potentially change the election outcome. I feel it is incumbent upon me, for the sake of the citizens who voted, to ensure that the election outcome is accurate, given the close margin. This isn’t about me; it’s about them. I would like to add that the Brunswick County Board of Elections has been extremely helpful throughout the election process.”
The candidate noted in his questionnaire to Port City Daily during election season he was compelled to seek office after watching from the sidelines for years. He cited Southport’s 33.8% tax increase in one year, turnover in the city manager position, misappropriation of city property, and failure to properly maintain and protect city infrastructure as concerning.
Crosbie formerly held a three-decade law enforcement career, gaining experience in short-term planning, crisis management, risk mitigation, and personnel matters, which he said has prepared him to seek public office.
The Southport resident faced off against David Miller (21.35%), as well as incumbents Carroll and Karen Mosteller (U). Mosteller was the top vote-getter with 27.50%.
Having served as alderman of ward 1 since 2021, Carroll told Port City Daily Monday he had no problem with the recount.
“Accountability builds trust in the process and that’s something we should all support,” Carroll wrote in a text message to Port City Daily. “Every vote matters and ensuring accuracy helps strengthen confidence in our local elections and the people who dedicate their time to serving this community.”
He also thanked Crosbie for serving the community of Southport, noting his “commitment runs deep.”
“Southport is stronger because of people like Mike who consistently show up, lend a head and lead with his heart,” Carroll added, noting the election’s thin margins are indicative of a “closely aligned community.”
According to Lavere, the recount will take place during the election’s canvass on Friday, Nov. 14, at Brunswick County Board of Elections Office at the Government Center in Bolivia. The process will start around 11:30 a.m.
She explained that bipartisan teams will feed every ballot through a high-speed scanner, with the BOE board supervising. Results will be released after the recount concludes. Lavere added all provisional ballots were finalized last week and absentee ballots were cured from the 2025 municipal election.
“The only possibility for ballots to be added would be military or overseas ballots that were mailed and received by Thursday,” she indicated. “If any of those happen to arrive, they will be considered and added before the recount.”
Southport was at the center of a recount during the last municipal election in 2023, between the mayoral candidates. Then-Mayor Joe Pat Hatem originally was the winner on election night but at the canvass, that changed when a provisional ballot shifted the outcome and put Alt ahead by two votes. This prompted Hatem’s recount request, though Alt ended up winning.
The two faced a rematch this year. Only this time, Hatem secured the seat by 358 votes.
“The mayoral race clearly reflected two very different visions for Southport’s future,” Carroll said. “And the results show that residents made their voices heard. We may not always agree on the path forward, but it’s clear we all care deeply about Southport and want what’s best for our city.”
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