Election Results! Run-off on October 5th

Mountain Brook returns incumbents, prepares for runoff

Published: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 10:05 PM     Updated: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 10:14 PM

William Thornton -- The Birmingham News

Mountain Brook's two incumbents fought off challenges to win re-election Tuesday, while two newcomers will face off in an Oct. 5 runoff.

Billy Pritchard in Place Three, and Jesse Vogtle in Place Five, were returned to office, with Vogtle avoiding a runoff in a three-candidate race.

In Place One, Temple Tutwiler, president of Tutwiler Properties, will face Amy Carter, a homemaker with a legal background.  Tutwiler, who took 42 percent of the vote, said he was delighted with the support he received.  "I'm looking forward to the race going on," he said. "It's been a great experience."

Carter received 36 percent of the vote, while former city attorney Frank Galloway received 22 percent. Attempts to reach Carter for comment were unsuccessful.

Vogtle, who was elected to the council in 2006, won Place Five with 52 percent of the vote, to 46 percent for architect Rick Sprague. Mark Roberts, owner of commodities brokerage PalladiumTrading.com, garnered a little less than 2 percent.  Vogtle said he was pleased to be returning to the council.  "It was a hard-fought battle, and I appreciate Rick's taking the high road on everything," Vogtle said. "I feel like the people had all the facts before them and made a choice. I'm happy the people voted me back into office because I enjoy serving the people and everything that goes with being a city councilman. It's been an interesting month."

In Place Three, Pritchard won with 52 percent of the vote, compared to 48 percent for homemaker Cornelia LaRussa. Pritchard, who has served on the council since 2000, said he expected a close race and this was the toughest of the three he has faced.  "I think it was a great day for the future of the city of Mountain Brook," Pritchard said.

Council members in Mountain Brook represent at-large districts. In 2004 the city began staggering its council terms to avoid having all seats open in one election. The previous two elections featured only one contested race each time, which made this year's field of eight candidates for three seats unusual.

City officials said turnout was also slightly higher than in 2008. Bill Irons, a poll inspector, said voting throughout the day at St. Luke's Episcopal Church was "spirited."