UPDATE: Challenger Horwitz Tops Two Incumbents to Win Council Seat

won’t return to Beachwood City Council in 2012, but he said he's not deterred.

"Given that I've been on council for 18 months and this is the first time that I've run, I'm pretty proud of the votes that I got and I appreciate all the supportthat I did get."

He added that he's interested in running again in two years. "I'm 42 years old. I've got too much invested in this city. I guess you could throw my hat in the ring right now."

Unofficial final results show challenger defeated Berns by 350 votes for the fourth council seat.

"I certainly was surprised at how well I did," said Horwitz. "All of those guys are pretty well known, except for Justin. I didn't want to be the one who knocked him off the council."

He added, "I think that what it really says is that people do want change once in a while."

Horwitz was the only candidate who publicly said he opposed the proposed development of a hotel and two restaurants at Signature Square. He said he did hear from residents that they would vote for him because of his opposition, but he said he does not think those 50 or 100 people landed him the spot. 

He beat Berns by nearly 400 votes and came in third of the five candidates.

The other three incumbents — , and — won re-election.

Berns was appointed to his council seat in 2010 to replace Ken Kleinman.

Martin Horwitz, an attorney, was a member of the Beachwood City Schools Board of Education from 1990 to 2005.

Votes