ST. LOUIS COUNTY • Rick Stream, defeated by less than a percentage point Tuesday in his bid to become the first Republican in nearly a quarter century to hold the office of St. Louis County executive, has not ruled out asking for a recount.

Stream spokesman Michael Hafner said Friday the campaign will wait until the election results are certified before deciding whether to request a recount. The St. Louis County Board of Elections has until Nov. 18 to certify the election.

Stream, a state Representative from Kirkwood, then has 30 days to file for a recount that would be conducted under the supervision of the St. Louis County Circuit Court.

“We’re still looking at all possibilities,” Hafner said. “We want to make sure the integrity of the process held up.”

Tuesday’s preliminary election results indicate that Stream lost to Democratic County Councilman Steve Stenger by 1,692 votes, or 0.58 percent.

State and county laws allow candidates who lose by less than one percent to appeal election results.

The candidate requesting the recount must however post a bond and pay the cost of the recount should it be decided again in favor of his or her opponent.