CALLS for a vote recount have thrown a shadow over today's swearing-in of Moyne Shire's new councillors-elect. But despite the uncertainty the council has vowed to push ahead with today's planned ceremony to officially welcome its seven newly elected representatives. Renegade former Moyne Shire councillor Dick Prendergast initiated the recount push after Port Fairy candidate Mick Wolfe suffered an agonisingly close defeat, falling just three votes short of a council seat after Sunday night's poll. Mr Prendergast, who did not return The Standard's calls yesterday, is a member of the Moyne Ratepayers and Residents Association and an avowed supporter of councillor-elect Jim Doukas.Mr Doukas and two of his five preference allies, Colin Ryan and Bernie Harris, both secured seats on the council. The remaining two members of the preference deal, Mick Wolfe and Brian Cockayne, missed out despite polling well in primary votes. Mr Wolfe, who yesterday distanced himself from Mr Prendergast's push for a recount, said he believed before the declaration of the poll on Monday that he had fallen 19 votes short behind Purnim's Geoff Rollinson.But only minutes before the declaration, he found out the final margin was just three votes, he said."Once the declaration takes place, a candidate is not entitled to ask for a recount," Mr Wolfe said."There's still an option open to me or anyone else but I'm not taking it, I'm getting on with it."He said Mr Prendergast had three key reasons for calling for the recount: the heavy workload faced by Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) counting staff during the weekend poll; an alleged computer glitch half-way through the count; and the "miniscule" margin of his defeat.Mr Wolfe said if the recount was authorised he would watch with interest, but in the meantime he wished the new council well. VEC Moyne Shire Council returning officer Lynda Beekhof was unaware of the recount call yesterday but said any complaints would have to be taken up with the Municipal Electoral Tribunal. Moyne Shire Council chief executive officer Brett Stonestreet said he was confident the election was conducted "in a most professional manner". "Notwithstanding, there are provisions which entitle residents or candidates to question the accuracy of the count and should there be an application to the Municipal Electoral Tribunal for review of the process, I am sure this will be dealt with expeditiously," he said. "Council will proceed to conduct its statutory meeting (this) afternoon at 5pm for the purpose of swearing in the new councillors and electing a mayor."