Suffolk News-Herald

Kirk Pretlow has filed a petition for a recount in the Suffolk Clerk of Circuit Court election.

Pretlow, 52, an attorney in private practice, finished second in the race to Randy Carter by a margin of just 16 votes out of more than 10,000 cast.

Election night unofficial results on Nov. 5 had Carter in front by about 125, but mistakes were found during the official canvass that narrowed the gap. Pretlow had 10 days to file.

&uot;I have filed a petition for a recount for the office of Clerk of Circuit Court,&uot; Pretlow said in a brief statement issued Wednesday. &uot;Because of the closeness of the race, I believe I owe it to the 2,400 plus individuals who voted for me to seek this recount.&uot;

&uot;Should Randy’s lead hold up through the recount, then I will be the first to congratulate him on his victory, just as I was on election night when I believed that he was the winner.&uot;

Seven people vied for the seat held for decades by Henry C. Murden, who announced his retirement early this year. Murden, who was 84, died in August.

Pretlow, who had the endorsement of the city’s Republican Party in the race, had been silent on the issue of the recount since the election, declining to return phone calls from the News-Herald. City election officials had said earlier that he had informed them of his intent to file for the recount.

Election officials told the News-Herald earlier that any recount would be overseen by a judge.