Clawson

Luebs edges Hack for Clawson mayor's chair

By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

CLAWSON — Penny Luebs edged out Kurt Hack by 20 votes, or less than 1 percent, to become Clawson’s new mayor, while two new council members took seats during the city’s elections on Nov. 6.

Luebs garnered 1,055 votes, or 50.4 percent, while 1,035, or 49.6 percent of voters chose Hack. Both Luebs and Hack have served the last four years as City Council members. Luebs will replace Lisa Dwyer, who did not seek re-election after two terms in office.

Moving forward, communication between the government and the residents, continuing progress in the city and keeping a close eye on the budget are the main issues, Luebs said after being elected.

“I think we both did the very best we could,” she said about the mayoral race. “Getting out and talking with people, listening (was the difference).”

Hack offered his congratulations to Luebs at City Hall.

“It was a fair race,” he said. “I have no regrets. I look forward to supporting Penny in any way that I can. I think the voters had a good choice in any way they chose.”

Despite the extremely close nature of the race, Hack dismissed the idea of asking for a recount.

“We have brand new voting machines, and it is what it is,” he said. “Anything beyond that, it’s just plain being a bad sport.”

Because both Luebs and Hack ran for mayor, there were two open City Council seats with no incumbents running. Howie Airriess and Samuel Moore won the four-year seats. Moore edged out Tim Simon, and Matthew Affeld finished fourth.

Airriess received 1,397 votes and Moore garnered 891 votes, just 16 more than Simon, who received 875. Affeld ended up with 725 votes.

After the results were announced at City Hall, Moore said the race was much closer than he thought it would be.

“Fiscal responsibility will really be a key issue for the next four years,” he said. “We are really going to have look at it and watch it.”

Simon, who has run for mayor several times in the past, was upbeat after finding out he came in third place.

“Well, you know, next time,” he said, smiling. “We’ll be back. I love being involved in the process, and I love the city.”

Of the 9,694 registered voters, 2,129, or 22 percent, voted in the election.

Clawson’s Unofficial Election Results


MAYOR
• Penny Luebs / 1,055

• Kurt Hack / 1,035

CITY COUNCIL

• Howie Airriess / 1,397

• Samuel Moore / 891
• Tim Simon / 875
• Matthew Affeld / 725

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1110.