The vote totals were nearly identical, with Letner keeping his city council role by a 407-371 vote, and Zimmerlin by a 406-370 count.
A total of 779 ballots were cast in the unusual Jan. 7 special election. For comparison, more than 3,300 Brookville residents voted in the November 2024 election that included the race for president.
Brookville City Manager Jack Kuntz said Tuesday’s special election cost the city an estimated $16,000.
While Letner did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the election results Wednesday, Zimmerlin thanked residents for their support in a statement to this newspaper.
“The results are a testament to the positive and impactful work city council and city administration have done to keep Brookville financially and economically strong,” Zimmerlin said Wednesday afternoon. “... I look forward to continuing my service to the city of Brookville through the remainder of my term and working hard to keep this community well-positioned for the future.”
The effort to remove Letner and Zimmerlin was spearheaded by political action committee Brookville Citizens for Keep It Rural, which filed recall petitions in October.
Petitioners associated with Brookville Citizens for Keep It Rural had asserted residents lost trust in the leadership of Letner and Zimmerlin. Those associated with the political action committee have also voiced concerns over the direction of development and land use in the city.
Zimmerlin said these concerns about rapid development and expansion have “weighed heavily” on city administration and council.
“... I understand and appreciate those who have concerns with growth and preserving the ‘small town’ charm of our community. No one wants to lose the spirit of what makes our town special,” he said Wednesday. “... (This is) why city council established a moratorium on new annexations and are working through the process to establish a new comprehensive land use plan.”
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