The candidates in the District 3 city council runoff have both agreed to refrain from negative campaigning.

“I was disappointed in the negative tone of many of our local races," said Bates Mattison, who is in the runoff with Kevin Quirk. "I called my opponent and asked him if he would join me in running a clean race and not engage in negative campaigning. He agreed.”

“My opponent and I spoke shortly after the Nov. 6 election and agreed on a clean campaign," Quirk said. "Raising the tone by focusing on neighborhoods instead of politics has been important to me since the start of my candidacy, and positive campaigns reflect well on our community."

Mattison and Quirk came in first and second, respectively, from a field of nine candidates. They were separated by only 10 votes, Mattison's 875 to Quirk's 865.

“This is a great step forward for the new city of Brookhaven," Mattison said. "We do not need to start the new city with the wounds and divisions that come from a negative campaign.”

Runoffs are also being held in the race for mayor, as well as two other city council seats. The runoffs will be held on Dec. 4. Jim Eyre, in District 2, was the only candidate to reach a majority vote required to avoid a run-off election.

“This election will be decided during the holiday season and I do not want to have to explain to my children that saying bad things about your neighbors is the way to win,” Mattison said.

"In addition to positive campaigning, I also pledged from the beginning of my candidacy to limit campaign contributions to a maximum of $100 per contributor," Quirk said. "It’s important that voters come back to the polls on Dec. 4, and by pledging to remain on the high road and by pledging to decline contributions from big donors, I’m doing what I can to maintain my neighbors’ faith in the electoral process.”

The Mattison campaign plans to hold an event  for the public at Mellow Mushroom in Brookhaven on Monday, Nov. 19.

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