SANFORD -- Downtown activist Linda Kuhn and former City Commissioner Herbert "Whitey" Eckstein will battle for the city's top elected post in three weeks after neither collected a majority of votes in Tuesday's elections for mayor.
Kuhn and Eckstein combined to collect nearly 90 percent of the citywide vote, setting up a tight runoff race scheduled for March 29. Kuhn received 46.5 percent to Eckstein's 42.8 percent.
Incumbent District 1 Commissioner Art Woodruff also will be in a runoff against funeral-home director Bernard Mitchell. Woodruff collected 40.4 percent of the vote to Mitchell's 25.5 percent. .
Mitchell, who has been active in the city's Dr. Martin Luther King Day Steering Committee and other boards, ran a low-key campaign to edge out newcomer Lindsay Oyewale for the right to face Woodruff.
Early on, Eckstein and Kuhn were viewed as the front-runners in the race to replace Mayor Brady Lessard, who did not seek re-election. Eckstein represented old Sanford, with much of his support expected to come from older city residents. Kuhn was viewed as the candidate of a wave of newcomers who have begun to transform downtown Sanford.
Eckstein's campaign focused on repairing a rift on the City Commission and getting the five-member board to work as a team. He said the city lacked leadership under Lessard.Eckstein's campaign relied on mailings, street signs and newspaper ads. He made few public appearances because of health problems. But he was well-financed, reporting $29,450 in contributions.
Kuhn mailed several pieces and made more public appearances, including entering an elaborate float in the city's Mardi Gras parade celebration. She reported spending $24,230.Kuhn campaigned on creating a grand plan or vision for the city and sticking to it.
Indicative of the old versus new was a half-page newspaper ad that Eckstein took out with endorsements from three former mayors, Bettye Smith, Sonny Raborn and Lee Moore. None has held office since 1997.
In the District 1 race, Oyewale outspent her opponents and went door-to-door to solicit support. She reported collecting $11,198. Woodruff reported $6,545 in contributions.
Most candidates for District 1 focused on the need for residential construction downtown. Oyewale pushed for additional training programs for young people while Woodruff said he would continue to seek more neighborhood involvement in crime prevention and community improvements.
