The race for Chapel Hill Town Council is almost too close to call.
It was one of the more competitive ones in this election cycle with seven candidates vying for four seats. Two incumbents managed to hold onto their seats, but two newcomers could drastically change the makeup of the board.
Incumbents Jessica Anderson and Michael Parker won reelection in a close race, according to unofficial results. But newcomer Amy Ryan, who previously ran for Town Council, and UNC student Tai Huynh also secured the remaining two seats.
Anderson and Ryan both won Chapel Hill Alliance for a Livable Town endorsements. After Anderson's 18 percent of the vote, the remaining candidates are virtually neck-and-neck. Ryan, Parker, Huynh and Oates are all within 2 points of each other.
Oates said if the margin between her and Huynh remains between one percent, she believes there will be a mandatory recount. The timeline of that is uncertain, but results will be certified on Nov. 15.
"Then we'll see what happens there," she said on election night.
According to Huynh's campaign manager Hannah Snow, he slept through his election night dinner and was late to his watch party.
The candidates all focused on the main issues of how to address climate change, affordable housing and inclusion. They mainly differ on how they believe Chapel Hill should develop and balance those commercial needs with environmental ones like greenspaces.
Despite who ends up winning, Chapel Hill voters had a clear picture of what they wanted to see after the election.
