Congratulations to Mayor-elect Owens and Eastpointe. Another chapter in the demographic shift of Metro Detroit has been written.
The city of Eastpointe made history Tuesday, electing its first black mayor and using a new voting method to elect two people to City Council.

Winning the mayor's spot was Councilwoman Monique Owens, who was the city's first black councilwoman when she was elected two years ago. She garnered 19 more votes than her closest opponent, Councilman Michael Klinefelt, according to unofficial results. Brian Fairbrother, assistant city manager and deputy city clerk, said Klinefelt can ask for a recount with the close vote, but he said he has not heard any discussion of a recount for the mayoral election.

Owens, who was a Wayne County Sheriff's officer per her Facebook page, would replace longtime Mayor Suzanne Pixley, who is retiring.

...The mayor was elected in the traditional, atlarge voting method, while the council seats were decided by a new ranked choice voting method used for the first time.

Earlier this year, the city entered into an agreement with U.S. Department of Justice to settle a 2017 voting rights lawsuit that challenged the method of electing the City Council.

The department alleged the method of voting for council resulted in black citizens in the city having less opportunity than white citizens to participate in the political process and elect candidates of their choice to the council.
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