Knol, Steckloff, Bridges, Brickner Win in Farmington Hills

New Farmington Hills city council member Valerie Knol was in a state of shock on election night. 

It wasn't that she won. It was that she won by so many votes. 

Knol finished with 7,487 votes, nearly 2,000 more than Samantha Steckloff, who finished in second place with 5,492 votes. Incumbent Michael Bridges received 5,462 votes, finishing just seven ahead of former county commissioner Steven Schwartz. 

"I am very surprised and delighted," said Knol, who held a victory party at Grand Tavern in Farmington Hills. "I didn't expect to win by that much."

Knol credits her success to being involved in the community and door-to-door campaigning, which she said started long before this past summer. She also cited her leadership experience on Farmington city council as a factor. 

Steckloff, who at 29 was the youngest candidate on the ballot, was shocked by her second place finish. 

"I thought I might sneak into third," she said. "I'm speechless."

Steckloff said she took her cue from the late Aldo Vagnozzi, who was famous for walking neighborhoods in Farmington Hills when he campaigned for city council and three terms as state representative. She met residents door-to-door "every single day, starting in May."

"This was something that was extremely important to me, and I didn't want to have any regrets on November 5," she said.

Mayor Barry Brickner, who ran unopposed, received more than 11,500 votes.