katherine a. gallagher.jpg
Katherine A. Gallagher
(File photo)
BROOKLYN, Ohio - Nearly 30 percent of Brooklyn voters elected Council President Katherine Gallagher as the city's new mayor, according to unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Councilwoman Kathy Pucci came in second with 26 percent.
"I want to thank all those who came out to support me today, and throughout the election process," Gallagher said. "I am very thankful and proud to have the opportunity to serve our city as mayor, and I'm looking forward to getting to work."
Gallagher, Pucci, Law Director Scott Claussen and residents Mary Lee Bowen and Michael Chanegri competed to replace Mayor Richard Balbier, who announced in April he was stepping down.
Early results showed Claussen leading with 40 percent. But Gallagher topped the race after precincts were reported.
The five mayoral candidates agreed the new mayor would have one major hurdle: the loss of American Greetings, Brooklyn's largest employer. The greeting-card company is moving to Westlake in 2016 and taking with it its $157 million payroll, which made up 13 percent of the city's budget in 2014.
The mayoral race made headlines last week when Claussen was arrested during a drug sting in Seven Hills.
Police said Claussen was found cutting up prescription pills with a credit card with Bryan Byrne, the son of Parma Heights Mayor Mike Byrne.
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