Former Huntsville City Council candidate John Stuart is throwing his support behind incumbent Jennie Robinson in the District 3 runoff, giving Robinson the endorsement of the third-place finisher ahead of the Sept. 22 vote.
Robinson will face Liliana Peinder in the runoff after falling just short of the majority needed to win outright in the Aug. 25 municipal election.
According to certified results from the City of Huntsville, Robinson received 2,778 votes, or 47.91%, followed by Peinder with 1,778 votes, or 30.66%. Stuart finished third with 1,234 votes, or 21.43%. Because no candidate received more than 50%, Robinson and Peinder advanced to the runoff.
In an announcement, Stuart said he spent the weeks following the election reflecting on the campaign and speaking with Robinson about the issues that prompted him to run.
“This campaign was never about running against Jennie Robinson. I was running for our community,” Stuart said. “Since Election Day, I’ve taken time to reflect and consider the path forward.”
Stuart said those conversations also gave him an opportunity to discuss concerns he heard from District 3 residents during the campaign.
“I’ve also had several honest conversations with Jennie about why I ran and the concerns I heard from residents across District 3,” he said. “I believe Jennie listened to what I had to say.”
Stuart said campaigning also gave him a greater understanding of the City Council’s role and a deeper appreciation for Robinson’s work representing South Huntsville.
“I may not agree with every decision or every path taken, but I can see progress being made,” Stuart said. “Public service is not just about the visible moments. It is about showing up for the hard, unglamorous work that keeps promises moving toward completion.”
Stuart then urged his supporters to back Robinson in the runoff.
“For those reasons, I am proud to endorse Jennie Robinson,” he said. “The ideas we raised still matter, and I look forward to working with Jennie wherever I can to help turn those ideas into progress for District 3 and for Huntsville.”
Robinson thanked Stuart for the endorsement.
“I am honored to receive John Stuart’s endorsement,” Robinson said. “John ran a thoughtful campaign focused on the people and the future of District 3. I appreciate his willingness to put our community first, and I look forward to earning the support of every voter as we head into this important runoff election.”
Robinson, who was first elected to the City Council in 2014, has made completing ongoing South Huntsville projects and addressing infrastructure needs amid continued growth central issues in her reelection campaign.
The District 3 runoff between Robinson and Peinder is Tuesday, Sept. 22. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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