Politics & Government

Mayor's Race Moves to a Runoff Election

Zuber narrowly earns most votes in three-way race

With none of the three candidates, Rob Berner, Greg Zilka or K.C. Zuber, earning more than 50 percent of the mayoral vote, Avon Lake voters will see a runoff election on Dec. 6 to determine whether Zilka or Zuber, the top two vote-getters, is the.

Unofficially, Berner earned 1,755 votes (19.65 percent), Greg Zilka received 3,546 votes (39.70 percent) and incumbent Karl K.C. Zuber 3,631 votes (40.65 percent). Avon Lake requires the winning candidate to earn more than 50 percent of the vote.

Zuber said he was hoping to earn more than 50 percent Nov. 8

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“You’re always hoping there wouldn’t be a runoff, but we’ve prepared for it,” he said. “Just as we prevailed in the first round, we’ll prevail in the second.”

Zilka, the current council president, said the race was now “entering the playoffs.”

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“KC is a very effective campaigner,” Zilka said. “I’m pleased to have run such a good race. Now the trick is going to be getting people to get out and vote Dec. 6. We need to get our message out there and work hard. People now I collaborate and solve problems.”

Zilka said with the election after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, it might be harder to get as many people out voting.

Berner, who previously served as the city’s mayor, said his campaign focused on change.

“The focus of our campaign was less government, smaller spending,” Berner said. “Obviously the voters weren’t interested in that. The federal, state and city governments are overspending. People don’t care. We’re the only one of the candidates who put a plan on the table for the next four years and 80 percent of the community said ‘we don’t care.’

“All these people who care about their home values are in for a shock when taxes start going up.”

 


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