(Sumter) Nov. 4, 2004 - Dickie Jones was talking like he won the day after the election, "I'm delighted that the people of Sumter and Lee County have voted like they have to put me in office."

The thing is, he hasn't. At least not yet.

The Republican attorney from Sumter ran against incumbent Democrat Phil Leventis for state senate. Leventis, a former F-16 captain, has held the seat for more than two decades.

When the votes were counted, Leventis had 15,593 and Jones had 15,561 or a difference of just 32 votes.

The numbers are so close, they'll get a second look. There's a mandatory recount when there's less than a 1% difference between candidates. Workers at the Sumter County Courthouse will begin recounting ballots later this week.

Sumter County Election Commissioners tallied votes until the early hours of the morning, but they still have to look at provisional and challenged ballots.

Jones believes he'll come out on top, "Well, I thought I was going to win, and I still think I'm going to win, so that was really no surprise."

Leventis, who declined a request for an interview, said he will have his people oversee the recount, and Jones is expected to do the same. The outcome of the recount can be challenged by either candidate until November 17th.

Leventis successfully fought to gain four-year status for the University of South Carolina Sumter over Governor Mark Sanford's objections.

And, on the last day of the session Leventis filibustered against Sanford's nominee for chairman of the state Workers' Compensation Commission. The action drew criticism from Republicans who wanted to get work done on other legislation.

By Jennifer Miskewicz
updated 7:54am by BrettWitt