After votes were counted and recounted, the Sunset Hills Ward 4 aldermanic race was hovering at a standstill. Incumbent Mark Colombo and Cathy Friedmann, two experienced candidates who have each sat on the city’s Board of Aldermen for multiple years, both received 50% voter approval on April 7, tying at 188 votes each.
Ten days later, Colombo broke the tie in the early hours of April 17 by conceding the race to Friedmann.
“After much consideration — and considering my opponent’s blatant disregard for the city’s time, resources and the efforts of so many others — combined with my own demanding and unpredictable travel schedule over the next four months, I have made the difficult decision to concede the race,” Colombo stated in his concession email to city administrator Brittany Gillett.
Prior to Colombo’s concession, there were three options to settle the tie in Ward 4. The first option was concession. The second option, if both candidates were to agree, would be to determine the outcome by a random method, such as a coin toss or drawing lots.
If neither of the first two options were pursued, the city of Sunset Hills would have held a special election later in the year.
Both before and after the recount, Colombo sent emails to Friedmann and the Board of Aldermen advocating for a coin toss or random drawing. Colombo said he wanted to save the city time and money that would be spent on a special election.
“My feeling is that the voters have already spoken, and they have confidence in either one of us. Why go to the extra expense of repeating the process when they would be fine with either one?” Colombo said. “We’re both accomplished candidates. We’re not diametrically opposed. We both love our city … I guess that’s why the election fell on a 50-50 tie. Either way, I think Sunset Hills will win.”
Meanwhile, Friedmann was in favor of a special election, leaving the tiebreaker in the hands of the voters.
“Sunset Hills residents deserve a leader who actually reads the fine print and respects the democratic process enough to let voters decide our future,” Friedmann said. “Advocating for a coin flip or drawing before all votes are even counted ignores the will of the people, demonstrates a lack of desire to do the hard work of an election … I will continue to work for my neighbors’ votes.”
The candidates could not agree between a random drawing or a special election. Colombo emailed Friedmann and the board on April 15 with “one more appeal” to select a candidate randomly, to which Friedmann replied on April 16, “I will not agree to a coin toss to decide a tied election. This decision deserves to be made by the voters in a special election.”
With neither candidate budging from their preferred method of settling the tie, Colombo backed away.
“As many of you know, I care deeply for this city,” Colombo said. “Serving as an alderman was a great honor, and I will always look back on that time with gratitude and pride. I wish you all the very best moving forward. Good luck, and goodbye.”
