A Ward 14 councillor candidate in Hamilton who lost in Monday's municipal election by 79 votes said he plans on requesting a recount.

Kojo Damptey, the former executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion and a sessional instructor at McMaster University, came in a close second in his ward with 2,531 votes, just behind Michael Spadafora, who had 2,610 votes. The count made it the closest race in the city.

Spadafora is president of Hamilton Kilty Bs Junior Hockey Club, as well as director of hockey operations and general manager of the Hamilton Huskies Hockey Club. He ran as the Progressive Conservative member of provincial parliament candidate for Hamilton Mountain during the provincial election earlier this year.

The two candidates were among seven vying to replace Terry Whitehead, the long-time Mountain politician, who did not run for re-election.

Damptey told CBC Hamilton Tuesday that due to the close result, "irregularities at the polls" and what he alleges were illegal campaign tactics by Spadafora, he'll be asking for a recount.

Some voters on Monday faced delays at polling stations, while others told CBC Hamilton when they weren't on the voters' list, they were told to come back. The city also faced criticism before the election due to the limited time some people had to send in their mail-in ballots.

Damptey also said Spadafora violated election laws by having signs in places they didn't belong and that residents reportedly received robocalls that falsely stated the outgoing Mayor Fred Eisenberger endorsed Spadafora.

"Those are two things that, to me, raise red flags," Damptey said.

Spadafora didn't respond to several requests for comment from CBC Hamilton.

Eisenberger's spokesperson Alia Khan said the office received a report from a resident Monday about a robocall that took place during the campaign.

"Mr. Spadafora reached out through a third party for an endorsement to the Mayor, and a conversation was had, however, in the end, an endorsement to Mr. Spadafora was never provided," she wrote.

City spokesperson Antonella Giancarlo told CBC Hamilton as of Tuesday afternoon, the city hadn't received a formal request for a recount.

When asked about any improperly placed signs and robocalls, Giancarlo said the bylaw department "advised they received complaints, but did not issue charges."

The Municipal Elections Act states a recount can take place if there's a tie, if city council passes a resolution to do a recount or if someone applies to the Superior Court of Justice for a recount and the court orders the clerk to recount.