Rochester Hills Mayoral Race: Barnett Faces Off Against Paviani

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Incumbent Mayor Bryan K. Barnett looks to hold off challenger Ariane Paviani for the seat. The winner will be elected to a four-year term.

Election results:

Bryan K. Barnett (Write-in): 11,029 votes (65%)

Ariane Paviani: 5,957 votes (35%)

Precincts reporting: 100%

About the candidates:

Barnett is running as a write-in candidate for the third consecutive time, because the Rochester Hills City Charter prevents a mayor from seeking re-election on the ballot after having served two full consecutive terms.

However, the charter sets no limits on how many times a mayor can run as a write-in candidate.

He has been mayor for 17 years after successfully winning re-election in 2019, 2015 and 2011. He was first elected mayor in 2006.

Paviani grew up in Rochester Hills and attended Rochester Community Schools. She began her career volunteering and working with the Kensington Community Church and later went on to work internationally as an advocate for an anti-human-trafficking nonprofit organization for four years.

When she returned to Rochester Hills six years ago, she began working as a technology assistant at Rochester Community Schools temporarily, before going back to school to get a degree in political science.

Patch will continue updating numbers as results come in