An election Tuesday failed to produce a mayor for Doraville, instead triggering a July 19 runoff to select the interim successor for Ray Jenkins.
An unofficial tally in the special election to finish Jenkins' term had Carol Gilman leading Donna Pittman by nine votes.
Jenkins died in February, and the winner will serve as mayor through year's end, with another election in November to fill the post for the next full, four-year term.
Gilman led Tuesday's balloting with 212 votes, compared with 203 for Pittman, a former councilwoman who stepped down to run for mayor. Tom Hart, a former councilman and retired chemist, drew 72 votes.
Gilman's recent public service involved work on a Livable Centers Initiative master plan for redeveloping the shuttered Doraville General Motors plant. The city council adopted the plan.
DeKalb County officials expect to finalize the count Friday. Also, an election will be held in November to select Pittman's successor on the council.
Jenkins, a Navy veteran and retired letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, was 80 when he died of pulmonary complications. He was first elected mayor in 2003.
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