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It was a good night for the incumbents, as Alpena city councilmen Sam Eiler and Shawn Sexton won re-election and a ballot question they supported passed easily.

Sexton, who was appointed to the board last year to fill a vacancy created when Carol Shafto was elected mayor, had the most votes of the four candidates with 900. Eiler finished with 709 and challengers Rich Anderson and Bob Fournier received 598 and 487 votes, respectively.

"I mostly just appreciate that people had enough confidence in me to vote for me," Sexton said.

Eiler was appointed to the council in January 2004 and elected in 2005. Both councilmen will serve four-year terms.

"It's a very humbling thing, after six years that enough people thought I did a decent enough job to vote for me," Eiler said.

He congratulated the candidates on "solidly run campaigns."

"It's been an honor and privilege to serve and I would have said the same thing if I lost. The voters have spoken and it's a very humbling thing," Eiler said.

Barring a resignation or recall, the four council members and the mayor will serve together at least until 2012, when Shafto and Councilmen Michael Nunneley and David Karschnick's terms expire. Shafto has said she doesn't plan to run again.

Sexton said keeping the council together is important because it will be leading the city through a difficult period.

"We work together well. We don't always agree ... but we have a mutual respect," he said.

Eiler said both he and Sexton bring independent, centrist views to the council.

"I think that's good for the city ... we judge each issue we can on the merits," he said.

With the election over, which Sexton said was "more relief than excitement," the councilmen can get back to work, and back up what they said on the campaign trail.

"My promise is to continue to be objective, to be honest," Sexton said.

Voters overwhelmingly approved allowing the council to sell the civic and convention center by a 1,191-260 margin.

The 82 percent approval rate is well above the needed 60 percent to allow the sale of city-owned property.

The facility was in need of at least $1 million in essential repairs and up to $3.5 million to bring it completely up to date.

The future of the facility had been discussed for years, but heated up last summer, when a proposal to renovate the Alpena Armory and have it become the civic center was brought to the council. The proposal was ultimately turned down, and after much discussion in the ensuing months, the council agreed to contribute $20,000 each year for 20 years to the Park Family Foundation for a convention center addition to the Thunder Bay Recreation Center.

All four council candidates supported the sale of the civic center.

Eiler said he would like to see each option for the sale be considered on a case by case basis.

"I think we'll try to sell it, try and get it on the tax rolls and proceed with the offer from the Park Foundation," he said.

City Planning and Development Director Greg Sundin has said the council could decide to sell the building to the highest bidder or allow it's sale for a specific use.