City Council President Jennie Robinson has won another four years representing South Huntsville, defeating challenger Liliana Peinder in Tuesday’s District 3 runoff.
Robinson received 3,773 votes (52.35%), while Peinder received 3,434 votes (47.65%), a difference of 339 votes, according to unofficial election night results from the City of Huntsville.
The victory gives Robinson, who has represented District 3 since 2014, a fourth term on the City Council.
Tuesday’s runoff followed a three-way race in the Aug. 25 municipal election in which Robinson came just short of winning outright. Certified results showed Robinson with 2,778 votes (47.91%), followed by Peinder with 1,778 votes, (30.66%). John Stuart finished third with 1,234 votes (21.43%).
With no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote, Robinson and Peinder advanced to the runoff.
Stuart later endorsed Robinson, saying conversations with her following the August election convinced him that the issues he raised during his campaign would continue to have a place in District 3.
Throughout the campaign, growth and redevelopment in South Huntsville emerged as a central issue.
Robinson pointed to projects including improvements along South Memorial Parkway, the Sandra Moon Community Complex, Ditto Landing and the city’s greenway network as examples of investments made during her time on the council.
Looking ahead, she told 256 Today she wants to focus on continued redevelopment along South Parkway, including the possibility of developing a master plan for the corridor.
“I think that that’s the South Parkway redevelopment,” Robinson said when asked what she hopes residents can point to at the end of the next four years. “I want them to be able to look at the South Parkway.”
Peinder challenged Robinson on issues including traffic safety, public transportation, representation and transparency. The two also differed sharply over Huntsville’s use of Flock license plate reader cameras, with Peinder saying she would vote against renewing the city’s contract.
Robinson made her experience a central argument for reelection, pointing to her years working with city departments, the city budget and District 3 residents.
“I know this community, I love this community,” Robinson told 256 Today ahead of the runoff. “I am running because I want to continue to serve to make a difference in the community.”
Robinson currently serves as president of the Huntsville City Council and is the first woman to serve multiple terms as council president.
The Huntsville City Council is scheduled to canvass the runoff results Sept. 29. Huntsville’s newly elected municipal officials will begin their new terms Nov. 2.
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