The challenger to Mayor James M. Ruberto, who lost by just 209 votes in the general election, said on Thursday he's "looking at the best approach" for the recount.

"We're obviously looking into it as we have taken out petition [recount] papers," Bianchi said. "We're determining what to do and how to do it."

Bianchi has until Nov. 13 to file a recount request with City Clerk Linda M. Tyer.

If Bianchi wants all 13,215 ballots cast tallied again, he must garner the signatures of 10 registered voters from each of the city's seven wards. Bianchi also has the option to request votes in specific wards be recounted.

Nevertheless, the petitioner must give particular reasons for seeking a recount and decide if the ballots should be electronically scanned again or counted by hand.