From staff reports
The State News
Incumbent Vic Loomis and challenger Kevin Beard took the two seats in East Lansing's City Council election Tuesday, and an MSU student took third over the other incumbent, Bill Sharp.
With all precincts reporting, Loomis won 29.01 percent of the votes, Beard won 28.16 percent, challenger and MSU student John Fournier won 22.14 percent and incumbent Bill Sharp received 20.33 percent of the vote.
Loomis, who will begin his second term on the council, said this term will be his last.
"We're going to do another hard four years just like we did last time," Loomis said. "Then it's probably going to be someone else's turn."
Loomis celebrated his victory with family and supporters, including East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows and Mayor Pro Tem Sam Singh, at the Marriott at University Place, 300 M.A.C. Ave.
Before the numbers started coming in Loomis said he had felt confident and relaxed about the results.
It took awhile — until after 10 p.m. — for Loomis to find out he won.
"Thank you all, we have done it one more time, the final time," Loomis said to his supporters after getting the numbers.
While Loomis celebrated his re-election, Sharp, who has spent 12 years on the council and came in last in the votes, reflected on his time in office at Reno's East Side Sportsbar & Grill, 1310 Abbott Road.
"I think 24 years of service to the city is something to be proud of," Sharp said. "Not many people can say they have served the city that long."
"Old councilmen never die, they just move to adjourn, and I so move," Sharp said.
Meanwhile, in his East Lansing home, Beard's face grew into a grin as City Hall relayed the final vote count over the phone.
"All right. Sounds good," Beard, 49, said into the cordless telephone. "That means next Tuesday I have to go to work."
Cheers erupted in Beard's living room as family and friends celebrated the victory, offering around congratulatory hugs and handshakes.
The victory came four years after Beard lost a City Council election to Sharp by a mere 31 votes. But tonight, four years after Beard congratulated the council member on the victory, Sharp appeared at Beard's door to wish him luck for the future and compliment him on a good campaign.
"This is just validation," Beard said. "The challenge now is to focus on these priorities and start pushing them forward."
Fournier, who finished third, said he "felt a lot better" than he expected, and was happy with the amount of students who came out to vote.
"Student turnout was phenomenal," Fournier said. "It goes to show that students do care about the city."
A student hasn't been elected to the City Council since 1977 when Alan Fox, an MSU history student, took the seat and served through 1981.
The council did appoint political economy senior Frank Aiello to fill a two-month vacancy in 1999, but that is the closest a student has been to holding an official space since Fox.
The most recent attempt came in 2003 from communication senior Joey Marcus and business administration and pre-law junior Jared Rapp. Both lost as write-in candidates.
Groups of Fournier supporters gathered with friends and family at his house.
Fournier said even though he didn't win, he hopes students know people in East Lansing do care about them.
"Students should know they have a lot more allies in the city than they think," Fournier said. "Often times I think students feel residents don't want them here, and that's not true."
Emily Mixter, secretary for the MSU College Democrats, said the group is trying to see the silver lining in their loss. Members of the organization were up at 8:30 a.m. putting up signs and encouraging students to vote.
"We're glad we were able to gain some ground," Mixter said. "Maybe in the future we can get a student on the council."
