Calling the extended journey “grueling,” Brian Gunn celebrated Tuesday night as the District 4 councilor-elect for the Birmingham City Council.

The first-time council candidate claimed 676 votes, or 67.67%, with 16 of 17 boxes reporting in the runoff election. Incumbent Councilor J.T. Moore was a distant second with 323 votes, or 32.33%.

About two dozen supporters gathered with Gunn at Woodlawn Market Place, just around the corner from where he announced his candidacy.

“We put in the work,” he said. “My team, we knocked doors every weekend, almost every day. We made phone calls, we sent text messages, and we made sure that we connected with the voters from August 26th all the way until today, October 7.

“We were intentional in our efforts to communicate with our voters, for those in District 4, to hear their needs and talk about the solutions for District 4.”

In other races Tuesday, Sonja Smith won the District 8 seat on the council and incumbent Councilor LaTonya Tate was returned to her District 9 seat. In the Birmingham Board of Education runoff, incumbent Neonta Williams won the District 2 seat; Antwon Womack was the top votegetter in the District 8 race; and Yamika Foy won the District 9 race.

The election results are unofficial until certified by election officials.

Gunn, who works with the nonprofit Measures for Justice, at his victory party said he has heard the district’s loud cry for community development.

“We need to make sure that these vacant lots in the city are maintained and that the property owners that are neglecting their properties throughout District 4 are held accountable,” he said. “The second thing is economic development. We need to make sure that we are properly resourced in our neighborhoods, to make sure that we have the grocery stores. There’s no grocery store in District 4.”

The councilor-elect said constituents are clamoring for eateries in the district so they don’t have to take their money beyond the city limits.

“We can keep it in the city of Birmingham,” he said.

How the Votes Fell

In all, 4,678 voters turned out at the polls Tuesday to vote in the six races on the runoff ballot.

In the council’s District 8 race, Smith took 867 votes, 55.61%, to April Meyers Williams’ 692 votes.

In a statement released Tuesday night, Smith, who currently serves on the city school board, thanked her parents, volunteers, campaign staff and community members for their support.

“I am humbled and honored by the trust District 8 has placed in me,” Smith was quoted in the release as saying. “Tonight’s result belongs to our volunteers, neighbors, and community leaders who knocked doors, made calls, and believed that together we can build a safer, stronger District 8. I’m ready to get to work — investing in youth opportunities, empowering neighborhoods, and supporting small businesses.”

In District 9, Tate got 921 votes, 55.65%, to retain her seat on the council. Challenger John Hilliard got 734 votes, 44.35%, in that race.

In the school board runoff, Williams won reelection to the District 2 seat with 226 votes, 55.35%, to challenger Terri Michal’s 197 votes, 46.53%.

Williams in a Facebook post said, “This time feels different. The first time you run for something, it’s good to be green. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. You advocate for a seat at a certain table and when you get the seat you find out you’re actually on the menu. So you need more people to show up and be part of the decision-making process for our children.”

But Williams was dismayed by low voter turnout in her district. “I’m grateful but I’m disappointed because to have just under 500 people to show up to elect the next person who’s going to make decisions about 20,000 children in Birmingham City Schools is embarrassing. It’s sad.”

Just 25 votes separated candidates in the District 8 school board race. Womack, a paralegal and pastor, received 755 votes, or 50.84% of the vote, to Pamela Bass’ 730 votes, 49.16%

In the board’s District 9, Foy, who works with the city’s Housing Authority, captured 1,126 votes, 69.89%, to Eric Hall’s 485 votes, 30.11%.

Reporters Daniel Gaddy and Olivia McMurrey contributed to this report.