AUSTIN — Ald. Emma Mitts was reelected to her 37th Ward seat Tuesday.
With all 22 precincts reporting Tuesday night, Mitts had 61 percent of the vote to challengers Howard Ray’s 26 percent, Corey Braddock’s 4 percent and Jake Towers’ 6 percent, sealing Mitts’ seventh term in office.
The three challengers vying for Mitts’ seat were a business consultant, a teacher and police officer.
The 37th Ward encompasses Austin, West Garfield Park and West Humboldt Park.
Mitts was appointed to her seat in the wake of the Operation Silver Shovel scandal, which saw her predecessor, former Ald. Percy Giles, sent to prison for taking bribes. She easily won election to her first full term in 2003 and has been in office ever since.
Mitts has lived in Austin for more than 20 years and held a number of positions within city government before becoming alderperson. She’s originally from Arkansas.
In the 2000s, Mitts brought the ward its first public library, and the area has seen the opening of small businesses — including the popular Brown Sugar Bakery — under her leadership. The ward has also welcomed facilities from various companies, including Walmart, Menards and Coca-Cola.
Some of Mitts’ major donors included DoorDash and the Service Employees International Union. She also loaned her campaign more than $38,000.