DAPHNE, Ala. — Fred Small, the Jubilee City’s sitting mayor—won tonight’s run-off election against three-time mayor Harry Brown (1992–2004) by 289 votes. Small received 2,017 votes to Brown’s 1,736.

The district-by-district breakdown is as follows:

•Brown won District 1, 314-186.

•Small took District 2, 545-243.

•Brown defeated Small in District 3, 251-181.

•Small won Districts 4 and 5, 528-345.

•Brown won Districts 6 and 7, 536-526.

Small garnered 51 absentee votes to Brown’s 47.

“It’s a lot closer than what I expected,” Small said. “Tonight, I’m gonna celebrate; tomorrow, I’m gonna take the day off.”

Then, it’s back to work for Small, who plans to continue to foster a positive working relationship with the City Council, one of the cornerstones of his campaign. He’s also looking ahead at his next term of office.

“I’ll be more than grateful for the next four years,” Small said.

The mood at Small’s camp tonight was joyous; many of his supporters—children, adults and senior citizens—crowded outside his headquarters on Main Street. A live band sang “Hallelujah” while his constituents cheered for their winning candidate.

Small was just glad election night had come and gone. “It’s been a long three months,” he said.

The mood at Brown’s headquarters contrasted sharply. He, too, had many supporters with him. But this crowd wore sullen, compassionate faces as they could see the disappointment on Brown’s face while he addressed the crowd.

“I appreciate everything that everyone did,” Brown said. “It’s just not meant to be.”

A special council meeting—set for Tuesday at 11 a.m. in council chambers at City Hall—to canvass the vote.

The run-off was held because Brown won the Aug. 26 election but not by enough votes. In the first round of elections, Brown received 1,463 votes to Small’s 1,394. A 50 percent-plus one or difference of at least 75 votes is necessary, according to Election Official David Cohen.

Ernie Berger—founder of Santa America, an organization that provides year-round Santa Claus visits to children in hospice care—had received 956 votes in the Aug. 26 election and was ineligible for the run-off.

In the previous election, residents also voted for their district’s City Council representative. The results of council elections favored incumbents.

District 2 incumbent Cathy Barnette defeated Kathy Ebbitt; District 3 incumbent John Lake won over Pina Witherington; District 4 incumbent Greg Burnam defeated Gary Reyes; District 5 incumbent Ron Scott won over challenger Willie Robinson; and Districts 1 and 7 candidates—Bailey Yelding and August Palumbo—had already been appointed to another four-year term as they ran unopposed.

However, Derek Boulware defeated District 6 incumbent Eric Nager. Nager was appointed to the council after Regina Landry resigned last November.