Up by only seven votes, incumbent Sam Edgerton still holds rank as the second highest vote-getter in Hermosa Beach’s recent City Council election, according to the latest unofficial results supplied by the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder’s Office.

Considered by many as one of the closest races in the city’s history, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Howard Fishman, who trails Edgerton in a two-seat election, is now debating whether he will request a recount of the votes once the results become official next week.

“Yes, if the vote remains as is, I am considering a recount,” he said. “I need to contact the L.A. County Election Board for more details.”

Tucker, who led with the highest amount of votes last week, still remains the top-seeded candidate with 1,470 votes (25 percent) while Edgerton trails with 1,211 votes (21 percent) and Fishman rounds out the tight margin with 1,204 votes (21 percent).

The morning after the Nov. 4 election, Edgerton secured the second-place spot only two votes ahead of Fishman.

“I think that Howard ran a heck of a campaign,” said Edgerton. “Anyone who can break 1,200 votes in a two-seat election and comes up empty is somewhat unlucky because that usually gets second place. To come up short is a tough loss,” said Edgerton.

The county has until the week of Nov. 24 before certifying the official election results. The results are unofficial until all absentee votes and provisional votes that may be circulating are counted. Absentee votes from military personnel overseas or that have been postmarked later in the election are still being counted, along with provisional votes which are votes that are contested. These votes usually come in the form of those people whose names are not listed on official voting records and need to be further researched before the vote is considered valid. It appears an estimated 2,800 of the city’s 13,183 voters participated in the election .

According to the county, any voter of the state may file a request for a recount. The request must be filed within five calendar days after the official certification of election results.

“I need to find out the exact costs. Once determined, I will contact those people who expressed interest in donating money and see whether those costs are covered,” added Fishman.

The recount in Hermosa Beach will require the hiring of one board which totals four county employees who will conduct the recount. The cost for one board in Hermosa Beach’s recount is $2,000.

If elected, Edgerton, who is a lawyer with his own firm in Hermosa Beach, would retain his seat for a fourth, four-year term. For Fishman, who is the risk manager for Manhattan Beach, it would be his first time in office.

Of the remaining candidates, Public Works Commissioner Charlie Cheatham still holds fourth -place ranking with 1,104 votes (19 percent). Post-production supervisor Alan Benson received 296 votes (5 percent) and real estate broker Richard Gebele earned 267 votes (4 percent). Investment banker David Cohn placed last with 180 votes (3 percent).