PICKENS — The special Pickens City Council election Tuesday night proved how powerful votes are, as just nine votes separated the top three candidates.

Pickens precincts saw 242 voters cast their ballots for the open seat vacated by Pat Welborn after his Clerk of Court win last year.

Welborn’s wife Patti received 80 votes, 33 percent of the vote, with Patrick Lark receiving 77, 31.82 percent.

Joe Davis received 71 votes and Robert Johnson received 14 votes.

The results will be certified at 10 a.m. Thursday morning.

Welborn and Lark will face-off in a run-off election April 14.

Jeremy Wright won the Clemson City Council that was also up for grabs Tuesday, commanding more than half of the vote.

With 444 votes, Wright defeated opponents Steve Fields and Christy Medeiros with 131 and 214 votes, respectively.

Clemson City Councilwoman Nancy Bennett resigned her seat last year.

That election’s results will also be certified Thursday morning.