A hand recount has confirmed the initial election results in a very tight Lynnwood City Council race — Van AuBuchon has unseated longtime Councilman Jim Smith.

“Both candidates picked up votes and the difference between the candidates is 10,” Elections Manager Garth Fell told us. The difference in the first count was 12 votes.

The results are unofficial until certified by the canvassing board, which is scheduled to meet Friday.

“I am honored to have been able to serve the citizens for the last 24 years,”  Smith said. “It is unfortunate that my opponent resorted to erroneous claims and deception in order to win by the thinnest margin that I can remember in Lynnwood’s history. ”

Smith added, “we have a good, functional council that has Lynnwood’s best interest at heart.  Their biggest challenge will be to communicate to our citizens the dire financial disaster that the administration had created.  We are broke and need to stop spending money while strengthening public safety which has been cut.  These next two years will be very telling.”

We are awaiting comment from AuBuchon. This story will be updated when we receive it.

Of the four council positions up for election, only Loren Simmonds retained his seat. Benjamin Goodwin narrowly defeated Ed dos Remedios and Sid Roberts beat Ted Hikel.