Incumbents Sweep Way Into Another Term in Birmingham

All three sitting members of the Birmingham City Commission were re-elected Tuesday in what turned out to be a pretty close contest. 

Commissioners Mark Nickita (27.43), Rackeline Hoff (25.74 percent) and Stuart Sherman (25.07) were the top three vote-getters Tuesday, with challenger Vicki Walsh just 185 votes behind (21.71 percent), according to unofficial results from the Oakland County Clerk's Office. 

"Lost by 185 votes. Thank you for all the support. We worked so hard and I'm so proud to have so many great friends, family members, and supporters," Walsh posted on her campaign Facebook page roughly about an hour after the polls closed. 

Support for the incumbents was strong in each of the city's nine precincts, where Walsh consistently finished fourth, results show. Slightly more than 12 percent of city voters turned out, and the majority of ballots cast were absentee (1,220).

Library Board Candidates Sheila Brice (34.7 percent), Andrew M. Harris (32.35 percent) and Frank Pisano (32.81 percent) were uncontested on the ballot. 

Turnout countywide was under 19 percent.