YOUNGSTOWN — Despite conceding the Democratic primary for Youngstown mayor after losing to incumbent Jamael Tito Brown by 64 votes, 3rd Ward Councilwoman Samantha Turner paid $3,600 for a recount.

The Mahoning County Board of Elections will do the hand recount Tuesday.

Tom McCabe, elections board director, said: “I’ve been doing this for almost 28 years, and I’ve never seen a recount overturn an election, much less one this large.”

The board certified the election results May 19 with Brown’s margin of victory growing a little after provisional and late-arriving absentee ballots were counted for the May 6 primary. He received three more of those votes than Turner.

The official results had Brown win by 64 votes: 2,010 to 1,946 for Turner, or 50.81% to 49.19%.

That 1.62% margin of victory is more than than 0.5 of a percent or less needed for an automatic recount.

“Candidates look at it and think that it’s close,” McCabe said. “There’s a reason it’s 0.5 of a percent under state law. A candidate’s perception is it’s close, but it’s not. I understand wanting clarity, clarification and peace of mind. But we’ve never had a recount overturn an election. This one isn’t close.”

McCabe said a couple of votes might have been eliminated because someone filled in the oval by a candidate’s name and put a dot by the other — and the electronic voting machines don’t always pick that up as an overvote.

McCabe said Turner’s campaign probably would have been better off spending the $3,600 before the election than on the recount.

“If you spent that much money in the election, it’s possible she might have won,” he said.

Turner sent a public statement conceding the race May 20, the day after the board’s certification, which was done with Turner in attendance.

“While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, I remain deeply proud of the conversation we started and the support we received across the city,” Turner wrote in that prepared statement.

Turner, who is serving her second term on city council, added: “I’d like to congratulate Mayor Tito Brown on his victory and wish him continued strength and wisdom in leading our city forward. This is not the end — just a new chapter in my commitment to serve the people of Youngstown.”

But just three days after that statement, Turner sent a letter to the board “to formally request a recount of the votes in the primary. “As a candidate not declared the nominee, I am exercising my right under Ohio Revised Code” to “request a recount. I respectfully request that the recount be conducted of all precincts within the city of Youngstown.”

There are 45 precincts in the city with a cost of $70 per precinct, said Melissa Wasko, the board’s deputy director, for a total cost of $3,600 for the recount. The check for the recount came from Turner’s campaign account, Wasko said.

Turner didn’t respond Friday to requests to comment on the recount. She hasn’t responded to requests from The Vindicator to comment on the race since losing the May 6 primary.

Brown said Friday that Turner conceded to him and despite having conversations since her May 23 request to the board of elections, she never mentioned the recount to him.

“She conceded and we talked about working together,” he said. “The political numbers show that a recount isn’t going to change the results. It’s too much. Everyone I’ve talked to said it won’t change.”

Three independents filed by the May 5 deadline for Youngstown mayor: John White, Derrick McDowell and Aleesha Foster. The eligibility of at least White and Foster could be in question.

The board plans to meet July 8 to determine the eligibility of independent candidates.