Days before the official vote totals are released, Republican Clark County commission candidate Kyle Koehler conceded the race on Monday to incumbent David Hartley.

In a written statement, Koehler thanked voters, family members and volunteers for their support and also congratulated Hartley, a Democrat, on his victory. He also vowed to remain involved in the community and the political process.

“ … My family and our family business (KK Tool) have cast our lot with Springfield and Clark County. We are not going anywhere. Whether I am ever in public office, Clark County is my community and seeing it grow and prosper will continue to be my goal. I will continue to work hard and be involved to make our county the best place to live and work,” Koehler wrote.

Hartley’s win means one Democrat will remain on the Clark County commission with Republican commissioners John Detrick and Rick Lohnes.

Hartley rallied from a 205-vote deficit after provisional ballots were counted last week to defeat Koehler by an unofficial vote of 30,498 to 30,240. The margin, however, required an automatic recount.

Clark County Board of Elections officials and volunteers on Monday hand-counted a random sampling of votes from six area precincts (City 14, Green 1, Springfield Twp. 3, City 18, Bethel 4 and City 6). Hartley received the most votes in those precinct with 1,697 votes to 1,393.

Because the number of votes came out the same by the hand count and by scanning, the entire county’s ballots is being recounted mechanically, Board of Elections Director Matthew Tlachac said.

The scanning process could take three days. The board will reconvene and announce the final, official vote totals at 10 a.m. Friday.

Of the 2,365 provisional ballots cast, 439 were rejected last week for a number of reasons, including those cast at the wrong precinct and wrong polling location, and voter registration and other identification issues.

Koehler’s attorneys, Dan Harkins and Mark DeCastro, filed an objection last month to how some of the provisional ballot envelopes were processed but don’t plan to pursue the issues because of Hartley’s unofficial margin of victory.

“If the election had been decided by 50 or fewer votes, then an election contest would be viable, but a 250-vote margin is difficult to overcome,” Harkins said.

Tom Wilson, a poll observer for the Democratic Party, said the elections officials followed state directives and called the process fair for both sides.

Koehler said it was heartbreaking to lose such a close race but congratulated Hartley on his win.

“He has served our county in many ways over the last 40 years — both in office and out of office. I wish him only the best over the next four years,” Koehler said.

Hartley has said he would reserve comments until the final, officials votes are released.

Commissioner Lohnes said he encouraged Koehler to run for the commission seat and was disappointed to hear he conceded the race.

“It’s a shame because Kyle worked so hard,” Lohnes said. “Kyle was going to bring a business man’s approach, and that’s why I suggested he run.”