A number of familiar faces will return to Evanston City Council after Tuesday’s election.
Incumbent Alds. Steven Bernstein (4th), Edmund Moran (6th) and Ann Rainey (8th) were among those who successfully fought challengers to retain seats on the council. Incumbent Melissa Wynne (3rd) ran uncontested.
Fourth Ward write-in candidate Ryan Garton’s efforts to unseat Bernstein were unrewarded as nine of 10 precincts gave Bernstein 96 percent of the vote.
Instead of last-minute visits or phone calls to constituents, the eight-year veteran spent the evening at a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at the Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., where he asked the city to uphold height limitations on a proposed condominium in his ward.
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), who endorsed Bernstein, called him a hard-working and thoughtful member of the council.
"Steve has run a real campaign and deserves to win," Schakowsky said.
In a statement released through his wife, Garton said he appreciates the support he’s had in the campaign and is anxious to look for other ways to get involved in the city in the short term.
Support for the incumbent was strong in the Eighth Ward as Rainey received 85 percent of the vote, beating opponent Daniel Shield.
"I’m glad I won because I have the most wonderful constituents in the city," Rainey said. "Nothing is better than the Eighth Ward."
Rainey’s Web site and online discussion boards were examples of the alderman’s "active presence" in the ward, said Eighth Ward resident Laura Bailey, 1032 Dobson St.
Shield could not be reached for comment.
With nine of 10 precincts reporting, Moran (6th) won 984 votes, or 46 percent, and will begin his fifth term on the council.
"The city council in the last eight years has been personality-driven, pretty uncivil … and not working for the city of Evanston," Moran said. "I’m proud of the fact that the stands I’ve taken have been reflective of the people. I’ve represented them even if the city council as a whole didn’t want to listen to those stands."
Of Moran’s opponents, Mark Tendam received 483 votes, Marty Norkett received 403 and Virginia Mann received 291. The Sixth Ward seat was the second-most contested after the Fifth Ward.
Township supervisor Pat Vance was re-elected with 6,158 votes, or about 70 percent, defeating Iris Johnson, mother of Fifth Ward candidate Patricia Brown. Township Assessor Sharon Eckersall ran unopposed.
Reach Beth Murtagh at [email protected].
