Lynn Compton, Jimmy Paulding in a tight battle for District 4 supervisor

This story was updated at 12:16 a.m. Wednesday.

In the closest race of the night, Lynn Compton and Jimmy Paulding were locked in tight battle for San Luis Obispo County District 4 supervisor.

With all of the precincts reporting, Compton jumped back into a narrow lead with 50.3 percent of the vote, while Paulding tagged close behind with 49.6 percent.

The race won't be decided until all mail-in ballots are counted, meaning no official winner will be announced until final tallies are announced in the coming days.

Early in the night, Compton said she did expect it to be a tight race, noting that the demographics have changed in South County.

"I expected it to be closer than last time, but I didn't expect to win last time," she said.

She also wished for a speedy result.

"I hope it doesn't drag on for days," Compton said from a campaign event at her headquarters in Nipomo. "I hope we know tonight."

The two were neck-and-neck throughout the night, running within 1 percent of each other since results were released at 8:15 p.m.

"It's empowering to know that not only am I in the running, but that this race is turning out to be so competitive," Paulding said after briefly taking the lead around 11 p.m. "I'm encouraged the community has faith in me, as evidenced by their vote. Ultimately, the decision is theirs, and I will respect their decision. Fingers crossed."

Early in the night, Paulding was optimistic after the first round of results had him trailing Compton by only 74 votes. He expected to be behind in early results because the campaign is counting on younger voters who tend to vote later, said assistant campaign manager James Sofranco.

"It's a good sign," Paulding said.

Residents countywide are watching the hotly contested South County race, as the decision will determine whether a conservative board majority will stand.

The incumbent Compton, a small business owner who lives in Nipomo, often votes in a block with fellow conservative supervisors John Peschong and Debbie Arnold on a politically polarized and sometimes uncivil five-person board.

Compton, 55, campaigned for a second term on a record of fighting against taxes and fees and for local park money.

Paulding, a 32-year-old project manager, planner and attorney and Democrat, played up the notion that he's a local from Arroyo Grande who can bring people together for good governance.

The race generated more than $566,000 in campaign contributions, with money flowing in to both candidates from out of the district.

San Luis Obispo County is facing several challenges in the coming years, including mental health services in the County Jail and preparing for the closure of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.

This story was originally published June 5, 2018 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Lynn Compton, Jimmy Paulding in a tight battle for District 4 supervisor."