Mayoral Candidate Says Loss Saddens Him

Elmhurst IL

07 April, 2021

5:20 PM

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ELMHURST, IL — With his loss in Tuesday's Elmhurst mayoral election, Ward 3 Alderman Michael Bram will be out of city government for the first time in two decades. Ward 5 Alderman Scott Levin won with 41 percent of the vote, followed by Bram with 34 percent and Ward 7 Alderman Mark Mulliner with 25 percent, according to unofficial election returns. Check where the mayoral candidates performed the best in Elmhurst. They were vying to replace Mayor Steve Morley, who decided against running again. "Obviously, I'm sad and disappointed to be not be moving on as the mayor of Elmhurst," Bram said in an interview Wednesday. "I've been humbled by the level of support I have achieved in my campaign for mayor not only from the people of my ward, but from across the city." Bram was the only candidate to take a majority in a ward — 52 percent in his own Ward. 3. Levin prevailed in five wards, while Mulliner won by a hair in his Ward 7. "I thought it was going to be closer than it was. There were 600 votes separating us," said Bram, whose voice was nearly gone Wednesday. "The lower voter turnout was a surprise as well. I'm going to take the next couple of days and review everything." He said he based his campaign on integrity and his achievements and plan. "From the get-go, my plan never changed. I stated my platform goals and never wavered," he said. Bram said he was not ruling out a future run for mayor or alderman, saying he would be "more than willing to throw my hat back in the ring." "I'm not the type of guy to step down. I foresee myself getting involved in some way," he said. Over the years, Bram has often found himself the lone dissenter on the 14-member council. For months, he has been the only one against continuing to give the mayor greater powers during the pandemic. And he has been alone on the council speaking up for advanced life support on fire rigs." Bram's council term expires May 3. In a Facebook post late Tuesday night, Mulliner congratulated Levin on his victory. Mulliner did not return a message for comment.