WESTPORT — Jennifer Tooker, the Republican candidate for first selectman, holds a razor-thin lead of 61 votes in an extremely close contest with Democrat Jonathan Steinberg for the town’s top job, with a recount possible to determine the official winner.

Preliminary unofficial results from all nine voting districts late Tuesday night show Tooker with 4,214 votes to 4,153 for Steinberg, with Libertarian TJ Elgin gaining 64 votes, according to figures reported from Town Hall.

Democratic campaign leaders said their side was not conceding, pending a review by election officials planned Wednesday of absentees, Election Day registration ballots and write-in votes.

To qualify for a recount, a candidate needs to be within one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast for an opponent for a particular office, officials said. It was unclear, unless Tuesday’s unofficial results change significantly, whether Steinberg would qualify for a recount.

Tooker, meanwhile, told a boisterous crowd of supporters gathered in Rizzuto’s restaurant, “Thank so much to every friend, volunteer, supporter.”

If the election results are confirmed, Tooker will step up from her post as a selectman, succeeding her former running mate, Jim Marpe, as the town’s chief executive officer. Marpe decided not to seek re-election this year after serving two four-year terms.

Sounding a conciliatory note, Tooker said that although everyone might not always agree on the issues, they share one thing in common. “This community loves its town, we love each other and we absolutely want to do everything we can to make Westport the best to live and work and raise a family,” she said.

Joining Tooker on the Board of Selectmen will be her running mate Andrea Moore, currently the vice chairwoman of the Board of Finance.

“So, what is our promise to you all?” Tooker said to the crowd. “Andrea and I will lead with compassion, integrity and professionalism. We understand that listening is one of the most important skillsets in a leader.

“We know our job is to manage the town government that works for you, in an effective and efficient manner, but most importantly has your best interests and your priorities at heart,” she said. “And together, we will ensure Westport remains the best to live, work and play in the region, and filled with the most amazing residents and business owners. We have never been more hopeful.”

Steinberg told supporters gathered at the Little Barn restaurant, “In an election that is truly hanging by a thread, we’ll go home tonight maybe not even knowing the outcome. Candice and I are very proud of the campaign we ran. We focused on real issues that matter to Westport. We focused on solutions, which remarkably our opponents have adopted as their own. We have reason to hope this will be a good thing for our community going forward regardless of the result.”

His running mate, Candice Savin, sounded a similar note. “”No matter what happens tonight, I believe we’re on the side of good in this community and we’ve got to keep fighting for it in every single office and every single election,” she told the crowd.

As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, election officials reported about 6.400 of the town’s more than 19,800 registered voters had cast ballots, plus an additional 1,600 absentees received at that point, an hour before polls officially closed.

• In one of the few other contested races on Tuesday’s ballot, the three Democratic Planning and Zoning Commission members seeking re-election — Danielle Dobin, Michael Cammeyer and Neil Cohn— were winners over Republican Jack Whittle and Coalition for Westport candidate Ron Corwin.

Preliminary RTM Results

While the Registrars’ office reported that numbers were incomplete for the three contested Representative Town Meeting races in Districts 1, 3 and 9, preliminary numbers in District 1 showed seats going to incumbents Matthew Mandell, Chris Tait and Kristin Mott Purcell, with Liz Milwe, a former member, gaining back a seat. Abby Tolan and Rick Jaffe lost their bids.

In District 9 preliminary numbers gave victories to incumbents Sal Liccione and Kristin Schneeman, along with newcomers Lori Church and Nancy Kail. Current members Velma Heller, RTM moderator, and Lauren Soloff did not seek re-election, while new candidates Clark Thiemann and Marla Cowden lost.

No numbers were available for District 3, which had five candidates.