The suspense is over in Calistoga and St. Helena, where a final tally from the Nov. 4  election revealed that two apparent losers for city council seats were winners after all.

Sharon Crull in St. Helena and Michael Dunsford in Calistoga became the official winners of Napa County’s closest contests, according to the Napa County Elections Office. The office certified the final results of the Nov. 4 Presidential General Election Tuesday.

In St. Helena, where voters selected a mayor and two city councilmembers, newcomer Crull overtook former St. Helena Mayor Ken Slavens’ one-vote lead after a preliminary tally to win a four-year term on the city council.

Krull is an attorney and winery owner running for public office for the first time.

In Calistoga, Dunsford overcame what appeared to be a 24-vote deficit after the preliminary count to win another term, with 31 percent of the vote. The owner of the Calistoga Inn received 914 votes — 44 more than challenger and retired Calistoga resident James Barnes.

The votes counted between the wee hours of election night, the last time results were posted, and Tuesday were the ones cast after noon on Monday, Nov. 2.

Nearly three-quarters of votes cast came in by Nov. 2, as Registrar of Voters John Tuteur has pushed for more vote-by-mail balloting in Napa County.

About 16,400 ballots  — or 27 percent of all ballots cast in the county — were received after Nov. 2, according to the Elections Office.

“The careful handling of these ballots as well as the duplication of ballots requiring further review, were all steps needed prior to certifying the election on Tuesday, Nov. 18,” Tuteur said in a written statement.

All in all, there were more than 60,000 voters in the election.

“I am pleased that once again Napa County voters turned out in greater numbers than the statewide average with 84 percent of registered voters casting ballots,” Tuteur said.

‘50-50 chance’

Dunsford on Tuesday said he was pleasantly surprised to find himself re-elected, noting he was in the same position four years ago.

“I thought it was a 50-50 chance,” he said.

Crull could not be reached immediately for comment.

Slavens on Tuesday thanked all my supporters. “I wish the new council the best of luck,” Slavens said.

Dunsford’s and Crull’s victories were the only changes in outcomes locally.

Calistogans also re-elected Mayor Jack Gingles and City Councilwoman Karen Slusser.

St. Helenans also re-elected mayor Del Britton and elected housing advocate Caterina Sanchez to her first term as councilwoman.

In Yountville, Town Councilman Lewis Chilton won re-election, and will be joined on the council by pharmaceutical consultant Marjorie Mohler.

Napa Mayor Jill Techel ran uncontested, and voters re-elected two incumbents to the city council, Mark van Gorder and James Krider.

 In American Canyon, Mayor Leon Garcia was easily re-elected and incumbent councilwomen Joan Bennett and Cindy Coffey were returned to office.

Napa County Supervisor Mark Luce easily won re-election in District 2, which includes Yountville and northwest Napa, while former American Canyon Fire Chief Keith Caldwell beat former Napa County Sheriff Gary Simpson in District 5, which includes southwest Napa and American Canyon.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D- St. Helena, and state Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, cruised to re-election.

Napa County voters overwhelmingly supported President-elect Barack Obama, and went against the tide by opposing Proposition 8.

St. Helena Star Reporter Jesse Duarte contributed to this story.