Sunset Hills Incumbent Baebler Keeps Seat with 64% of Vote

Ward 1 Alderwoman Dee Baebler kept her lead over challenger Jim Rode in Sunset Hills for a win Tuesday. Residents vote by ward for aldermen and votes were tallied by about 10pm.

Baebler took 218 votes to Rode's 124, that's 63.56 percent for Baebler to Rode's 36.15 percent.

Less than a quarter of registered voters turned out to vote from Ward 1, Tuesday, at 23.9 percent. About 1,100 stayed home, 342 cast ballots. Ward 1 has the smallest number of registered voters of the four wards making up the city.

Baebler declared victory by midnight in a email to supporters.

"The finals are in. . .we won! Thank you for your help, support and for coming out to vote in this election. I am blessed to know you and honored to continue to serve you," Baebler said.

Baebler retains the seat to which she was appointed a year ago by Mayor Bill Nolan. Baebler stepped up to the plate when the New Year's Eve tornado devastated the homes of some 14 families in her ward, by helping them access aid, donations and key information to rebuild their lives.

She had the endorsement of Nolan.

This was Rode's first run for public office. He is a chemical engineer and had the support of former mayor Mike Svoboda and a number of current Sunset Hills aldermen.

Another three incumbents won re-election unopposed Tuesday to the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen: Scott Haggerty for a second 2-year term with 21 percent turnout in Ward 2, Jan Hoffman for an 11th term with 19.6 percent turnout in Ward 3, and Patricia Fribis with 20 percent turnout in Ward 4.

Fribis took the most votes with 370, Haggerty with 350 and Hoffman with 345, but Haggerty had the best percent turnout after Baebler. Hoffman had the lowest turnout of the four wards.