WINDSOR – Bertie County citizens narrowly defeated a Mixed Beverage referendum on Tuesday.

Unofficial tallies from the Bertie County Board of Elections show 686 citizens voting against the proposal while 673 were in favor of having mixed drinks served at county establishments.

The 13-vote margin is unofficial at this point.

The voting tabulations were back-and-forth all evening after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m. With 11 of 12 precincts reporting, those favoring mixed drinks were 14 votes in front of those in opposition. However, the final precinct to report swung the tide back in favor of those opposed to the measure.

The only other close race in Bertie County came in the Aulander municipal election. There, eight candidates were vying for three seats on the Aulander Town Council.

Unofficially, incumbent Council members Dennis B. Wilder (149 votes) and Mary Jane Tayloe (129 votes) will return for another term in office. The third seat was apparently earned by Jason W. Tinkham who was favored on 143 ballots.

The remaining Aulander votes were captured by Robin Maxham Bland (87), Henry J. Ingram (76), Larry Cooke Jr. (60), Joe R. Jernigan Sr. (46) and Kimsey Myers (46).