EKB News

Current Elkhorn City Mayor Billy Powell, who lost his bid for re-election to challenger Mike Taylor, has filed a lawsuit alleging vote fraud, asking the results be thrown out and a new election held. Five hundred seventy five votes were cast in the race, but losing candidates claim not all of the votes came from people who live in Elkhorn City. Attorney Steve Owens says people were allowed to use city ballots without any verification they were city residents. Owens, who represents Richard "Hank" Salyers and Mayor Billy Powell, has filed a suit claiming city ballots were sent to the Upper Elkhorn precinct, so residents not in the city received a ballot with city races on it. The suit also alleges the voting machines were on Central time instead of Eastern, which candidates claim means votes cast in the first hour might not have been counted. Taylor has denied the allegations and says he's the new mayor of Elkhorn City. Pike County Clerk Lillian Pearl Elliott says she cannot comment while the case is in court.