Nearly 13,000 votes were cast in Huntsville’s municipal election Tuesday, sending City Council President Jennie Robinson and challenger Liliana Peinder to a September runoff in District 3, while incumbents David Little and Bill Kling won decisive victories.
Holly McCarty and Payten Redfearn also won their respective Huntsville City Schools Board of Education races.
With 5,792 votes cast in District 3, Robinson received 2,777 votes (47.95%), while Peinder received 1,773 votes (30.61%). John Stuart finished third with 1,242 votes (21.44%).
Because no candidate received a majority of the vote in the three-way District 3 race, Robinson and Peinder will meet again in the Sept. 22 runoff.
Following the election night results, Robinson said in a statement she was grateful for voters’ support and ready to turn her attention to the runoff.
“I am incredibly grateful to every person who voted, volunteered, encouraged, displayed a sign, made a phone call, or shared our message. Because of that support, our campaign is moving forward to the runoff election on September 22!” Robinson said.
Robinson has represented District 3 on the City Council since 2014 and currently serves as council president. She previously served on the Huntsville City Board of Education and campaigned for another term with an emphasis on managing growth, infrastructure and maintaining quality of life.
Peinder entered the race this summer with a platform focused on sustainable growth, community services, educational partnerships and expanding opportunities across District 3.
Little, Kling win reelection
There was considerably less suspense in the other two City Council contests Tuesday.
District 2 Councilman David Little defeated challenger Thomas Casez, receiving 3,089 votes (65.85%), to Casez’s 1,602 votes (34.15%).
In District 4, longtime Councilman Bill Kling won another term in a three-way race against Nick Frevold and Will Pylant.
Kling received 1,616 votes (66.58%), followed by Pylant with 610 votes (25.13%), and Frevold with 201 votes (8.28%).
McCarty, Redfearn win school board seats
Meanwhile Holly McCarty won the District 2 Huntsville City Schools Board of Education race over Matt Woolsey.
McCarty received 3,008 votes compared with Woolsey’s 1,630 votes.
In District 3, Payten Redfearn defeated Robert “Coach P” Person.
Redfearn received 3,413 votes, while Person received 2,252 votes.
District 4 school board member Ryan Renaud was unopposed after no other candidate qualified for the seat and was declared the winner by the City Council in July.
District 3 heads to September runoff
Tuesday night’s results remain unofficial until the Huntsville City Council canvasses the election at noon Sept. 1.
Candidates receiving a majority of votes cast will then receive certificates of election. With no candidate reaching that threshold in the District 3 City Council race, Robinson and Peinder will face off again Sept. 22.
The deadline to register to vote in the runoff is Sept. 7. The City Council will canvass runoff results Sept. 29, and Huntsville’s newly elected municipal officials will take office Nov. 2.
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