On December 1, 1975, Miles Nelson defeats Liberino ("Lib") Tufarolo in a coin toss to determine the winner of Clyde Hill's mayoral election. The election a few weeks earlier ended in a 576-576 tie, and pursuant to Washington law and custom, the winner is decided by the flip of a coin. Though this procedure isn't unheard for deciding a tied municipal election in Washington and in many other states, the story captures the nation's imagination. It's carried in newspapers across the country and appears on NBC News and inPeople magazine.  

Just Another Election 

It was just another mayoral election in Clyde Hill -- a smallcommunity on the east side of Lake Washington -- on November 4, 1975. The incumbent, Liberino Tufarolo, waslong established in local politics. He was first elected to Clyde Hill's towncouncil in March 1960 and assumed the mayor's post in July 1970 upon the mid-term departure of Lloyd Chapman. Heran unopposed in the 1971 mayoral election, but he had competition in the 1975election from Miles Nelson, who had been a Clyde Hill councilman for four years.

The election didn't attract any particular attention as itapproached. Eric Lacitis, a youngreporter atThe Seattle Times, observed, "The two men never debated. And, it appears, nobody in the3,200-population town cared much if they did. No organizations asked the twomen to debate before them" ("Mayor's Race…"). Tufarolo spent nothing on campaigning, whileNelson spent $5 on brochures -- and that was only in response to an editorialin theBellevue American that endorsedTufarolo. "It made me go out and work," explained Nelson ("CoinToss…").

Maybe it made a difference. As election results began coming in Nelson took the lead; indeed,The Seattle Times prematurely declaredhim the winner the next day when the unofficial count showed him leading 463-425.But the paper failed to take into account 91 absentee ballots that remained tobe counted. Nelson's lead shrank as they were counted and two days later, on November 7, he led by onlyone vote, 564-563. Three days after that, Tufarolo had a two-vote advantage. When the final tally was announced onNovember 19, Tufarolo had edged Nelson out by one vote, 576-575. However, recounts are mandatory in Washingtonstate elections when the difference between the candidates is within one-halfof 1 percent of the total vote cast, and when the recount results wereannounced the following week, the vote was tied 576-576. Washington state law requires tied races tobe decided "by lot," which traditionally has been a coin toss. The ceremonialtoss was duly scheduled for the following Monday, December 1, in the office ofRalph Dillon, King County Superintendent of Elections.

"They Didn'tVote Intelligently"

In his article, Lacitis asked why there was a tie in theelection. "The people didn't know there was a choice. They didn't voteintelligently," answered Nelson. Tufarolo was more circumspect, remarking, "I attribute it mostly to my position on the ballot" ("Mayor'sRace…") since his name was printed below Nelson's. He wasn't happy about a coin toss: "It's just ridiculous. I don't think that's how the peoplewould want it done." (He would have preferred another vote.) Nelsonwas more accommodating, saying, "Oh, well, I guess it's the mostequitable, least offensive method of settling it" ("Mayor'sRace…").

This was hardly the first municipal election in the countryto be decided by a coin toss (many states still do it), but this one capturedthe nation's imagination. Articles about the forthcoming flip appeared inpapers as far away as Lewiston, Maine, and Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Some of the majornews outlets covered it too, and the press was duly on hand when the two menmet in Dillon's office at the County Administration Building in Seattle at 10a.m. on December 1 for the big toss-up. Tufarolo again complained that it was a ridiculous way to settle anelection. Nelson almost didn't arrive intime, which would have been a shame, because he got the honor of making thecall.

Heads It Is!

"Heads," he called, as Dillon flipped a Kennedyhalf-dollar… and dropped it. The crowd laughed. Dillon muttered "I was afraid ofthat" ("A New Mayor…"). He picked up the coin, flipped it again, and again Nelson called heads. This time Dillon caught it. Heeyed the coin and called out "Heads! Mr. Nelson wins!" ("A NewMayor…"). A stunned Tufarolo wishedNelson luck and left with tears in his eyes, quietly commenting that maybe itwas time for someone else to take over. Nelson was more effusive. He explained that he'd been interviewed by areporter and a photographer fromThe NewYork Times, and said during a photo-taking session that he'd practiced tossing acoin. It came up heads six times out of seven, prompting him to call heads whenit counted. "I had a feeling I would win," he told theSeattle Post-Intelligencer ("HeadsIt Is…").

Sources: "A New Mayor (Heads) is Elected, the Old One (Tails) Leaves," People magazine, January 12, 1976, website accessed February 1, 2016 (http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20066044,00.htm); "Absentees to Decide Clyde Hill Mayor," Bellevue American, November 6, 1975, p. A-9; "Coin Toss to Decide Mayor," Ibid., November 27, 1975, p. A-1; "Mayor Race Attracts Nationwide Attention," Ibid., December 4, 1975, p. A-1; S. L. Sanger, "Heads It Is -- And He's Mayor," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 2, 1975, p. A-3; "Results of Suburban Races," The Seattle Times, November 5, 1975, p. A-6; Charles Aweeka, "Suburban Races Still Wait on Absentees," Ibid., November 8, 1975, p. A-7; "Recount Expected in County Contest," Ibid., November 10, 1975, p. A-7; "Election Results Final Except for Recount Races," Ibid., November 19, 1975, p. B-3; "One Race Tied After Recounts," Ibid., November 26, 1975, p. A-14; Erik Lacitis, "Mayor's Race to Be Decided by Flip of Coin," Ibid., November 27, 1975, p. A-15; Charles Aweeka, "Race for Mayor's Job Ends in a Toss-Up," Ibid., December 1, 1975, p. A-1; "City of Clyde Hill Council History Chart," and "Clyde Hill Mayor History Chart," City of Clyde Hill website (Document Center) accessed February 29, 2016 (http://www.clydehill.org/document-center).