By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Allen Park will have a new mayor and a mostly-new city council after Tuesday’s election.
William Matakas beat challenger David Babbage 5,052 votes to Babbage’s 4,005 votes.
Bob Keenan (4,351 votes), Angelo DeGiulio (4,126 votes), Dennis Hayes (4,030 votes) and Harry Sisko (3,771 votes) will join incumbents Larry Templin (3,526 votes) and Tina Gaworecki (3,430 votes) on the council dias. Templin and Gaworecki were each appointed this year to fill seats vacated by other council members.
Incumbent Tony Lalli, the current mayor appointed in the wake of former mayor Gary Burtka’s resignation, lost his bid for his old council seat with 2,235 votes. Incumbent Frank Tucci lost his bid for his current council seat with 2,235 votes.
Other unsuccessful challengers were Steve Gary, who netted 3,311 votes, Robert Turner with 3,214 votes, Edward Klienow with 3,179 votes, and Christopher Tuccini with 2,671 votes.
Maureen Armstrong won her bid for treasurer with 4,094 votes against Nancy Teets, who netted 3,282 votes. City Clerk Michael Mizzi ran unopposed.
In the Allen Park Public Schools board race, Julia Sheppard won a partial term ending in 2013 with 2,140 votes. Challengers J. Michael Hill and Kathleen Cicotte netted 959 and 1,880 votes, respectively.