Top 12 advance for at-large council seats

9/16/2009

All four Toledo City Council incumbents and a former council member easily topped a field of 23 candidates vying Tuesday to be at-large members on the legislative body for the next four years.

Early unofficial results placed challenger Rob Ludeman and incumbent George Sarantou, both Republicans, along with Council President Joe McNamara, a Democrat, as the top-three vote-getters.

With Tuesday's defeat of Issue 2 - the Nine is Fine ballot question that would have reduced the size of council from 12 to 9 - the top 12 vote-getters Tuesday advance to the Nov. 3 election for the final vote to fill the six at-large council seats.

"I will continue to work really hard to make responsible budget decisions that put public safety first," Mr. McNamara said last night.