In May, he defeated fellow Democrat Virgina Smith in a primary to move ahead to the general election. Smith was an incumbent at the time.
Piper retired from Navistar in 2002 after a 30-year career. However, he remained active working as a parking enforcement officer with the Urbana Police Division. He previously said that job helped him meet residents and learn more about the issues they’re concerned with.
Piper said Tuesday night he was excited to win and said plans to be an advocate for residents in the ward.
“That tells me they want me to go in and be a spokesman for them,” Piper said of voters.
He said he knew he had a good chance to win the seat because his opponent was a write-in candidate, which gave Piper an advantage.
“I’m very appreciative of the voters,” Piper said.
Incumbents won several other seats in the city, including for mayor and council president, in uncontested races.
Other races in Champaign County included:
• Charles Lyons III defeated Jennifer Litteral 59 percent to 41 percent in the race for Christiansburg mayor.
• Jodi Eileen Compton and Charles Foss won the two available seats on the Mechanicsburg village council.
• Susan Woodard and Gwen Beech won the two available seats for North Lewisburg village council.
• Joseph Reneer defeated his opponent Brad Kennedy 65 percent to 35 percent in the race for St. Paris mayor.
• Tyler Adkins and Terry Ervin II won the two available seats for the St. Paris village council. However, Ervin only defeated Niven Jester by one vote, and Steve Moore, a board of election member, said there will be an automatic recount.
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