VIDALIA — In civics classes, teachers often dredge up stories of elections that were decided by one vote, and as of Tuesday, Police Jury District 4B can be cited as an example of just that.

The election for the seat, between incumbent Melvin Ferrington and challenger Jimmy “Boo” Wilkinson, was Saturday. When the unofficial results came in at 474 votes to 473 in Ferrington’s favor, Wilkinson asked for a recount.

While votes cast at the polls were electronic, some ballots — for example, mail-in votes — had to be hand counted, and Tuesday they were as observers from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office, the Concordia Parish Registrar of Voters Office, the Concordia Parish Clerk of Court’s Office and the two campaigns watched.

In the end, Concordia Parish Chief Deputy Clerk of Court Becky Zerby said the recount resulted in no change, and the votes were transmitted to the secretary of state’s office to be declared official.

Wilkinson said he accepted the results unbegrudgingly, saying, “It is what it is.”

“After a thorough look with the mail-ins, I am well satisfied that I lost by one vote,” he said.

Wilkinson extended his thanks to the government officials who worked on the recount.

“They bent over backwards to satisfy me with the count, and they did an awesome job,” he said. “It just goes to show you that one vote does matter.”

The candidate also thanked his family and supporters for working hard on the campaign, and said he wished Ferrington the best of luck for the next four years.

For his part, Ferrington said he was looking forward to continuing working on long-term police jury projects such as improving parish drainage now that the election is over.

“It is all over with and that one vote counts,” he said. “It has been a long campaign, and I am pleased it is over with.”

“I am so thrilled, but I am tired — I think I am going to lay down and sleep about a week.”

Ferrington said that after the count he ran into Wilkinson in public and shook his hands, stating that no hard feelings were had for the campaign and the recount.