Richland’s Val Hutchinson is not conceding after last night’s vote tally showed her with a 223-vote loss to a political newcomer and Democrat.

Julie-Ann Dixon, a 40-year-old community activist, apparently wrested the Northeast Richland seat from the eight-year GOP member of Richland County Council.

“I don’t think this is over yet,” said Hutchinson, 66, referring to the back-and-forth vote counts that had her losing — then winning — and then losing again in the county’s bungled Nov. 6 election.

“Just think, someone made a premeditated decision to violate state law by assigning an inadequate number of voting machines, which resulted in disenfranchising voters, both Democrat and Republican.”

Hutchinson said “it wouldn’t surprise me” if there were a federal investigation. She would not elaborate.

She is one of three Republicans on the 11-member council.