Green Bay alder will assume office following recount

A newly-elected member of the Green Bay City Council will be sworn in next month after a judge rejected a call for a hand recount in the race.

On Monday, City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys issued a certificate of election and oath of office to Joey Prestley.

Prestley won the election for the city’s District 6 council seat by 16 votes earlier this month. He defeated incumbent Alder Steven Campbell. 

Campbell requested a recount, which confirmed the results. The same day as the recount, Campbell asked Brown County Circuit Court to order Jeffreys to perform a hand recount. A judge denied that request last Friday.

“Despite numerous objections from the petitioner, the Board of Canvass determined at-polls ballots, absentee ballots, absentee certificates, poll books and other election documentation were in good order,” Jeffreys said in a statement.

According to the clerk’s office, Prestley can immediately begin serving on city committees. He will be formally sworn in at the next council meeting on May 7.

In an interview with WPR last week, Prestley said he was looking forward to serving on the city council when the recount process was over.

“The voters made their voices heard on election night. It was confirmed with the recount,” he said. “I just want to make sure that those voters and everyone in the district has their voice heard.”