Four-term Ogden City Councilman Jesse Garcia was defeated in Tuesday's balloting -- or was he?

Garcia, who has represented Ogden's central city Ward 1 for 16 years, faced a stiff challenge from Neil K. Garner.

Tuesday's results showed Garner emerging with a slim 18-vote victory.

But Garcia isn't conceding. Not yet, anyway, because there are 12 provisional votes and at least 71 absentee votes outstanding.

"Because of the number of ballots still out there, it's not right to concede," Garcia said Friday. "Hopefully, it will come out."

Garner could not be reached for comment Friday.

According to Gloria Berrett, the Weber County elections administrator, her office will begin counting provisional ballots today.

She said she expected more absentee ballots to turn up. Her office mailed 116 of them to Ward 1 voters. At least 71 have been returned and more could turn up.

When all the ballots are counted, Weber County elections officials will provide the results to Ogden City. The winner of the Ward 1 council race may not be known until the Ogden City Council, acting as the board of canvass, certifies the election results Nov. 17.

In the meantime, Garcia said he won't worry.

"If it ends here, I feel good about the 16 years I've put in."

csmart@sltrib.com