Hardin Middle School teacher Chris Kyle hugs student Lilly McGhee, 14, after winning a tie-breaking name drawing for the St. Charles City Council Ward 1 position, at St. Charles City Hall on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The drawing was between Kyle and incumbent Bill Otto to determine who won the tied election.
ST. CHARLES — After more than a week of uncertainty, the winner of the tied St. Charles City Council race between Bill Otto and Chris Kyle has been determined — by drawn lots.
A container sits on a table with Ward 1 council member incumbent Bill Otto’s and Hardin Middle School teacher Chris Kyle’s names on two slips of paper for a tie-breaking name drawing at St. Charles City Hall in St. Charles, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The drawing was done between Otto and Kyle to decide who won the city council position after an election resulted in a tie.
St. Charles assistant city clerk Emily Galantowicz, left, holds an opaque jar as city clerk Kim Hudson announces Hardin Middle School teacher Chris Kyle as the Ward 1 council member at St. Charles City Hall in St. Charles, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. A tie-breaker name drawing was done between incumbent Bill Otto and Kyle to decide who wins the Ward 1 council member position after an election resulted in a tie.
St. Charles Ward 1 council member incumbent Bill Otto walks into a side room at St. Charles City Hall after losing to Hardin Middle School teacher Chris Kyle in a tie-breaking name drawing for his city council position in St. Charles, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The drawing was done between Otto and Kyle to decide who won after an election resulted in a tie for the position.
Developer Robert Mangelsdorf, who is redeveloping the American Car Foundry property downtown, also alleges that one council member pressured h…
Hardin Middle School teacher Chris Kyle hugs student Lilly McGhee, 14, after winning a tie-breaking name drawing for the St. Charles City Council Ward 1 position, at St. Charles City Hall on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The drawing was between Kyle and incumbent Bill Otto to determine who won the tied election.
A container sits on a table with Ward 1 council member incumbent Bill Otto’s and Hardin Middle School teacher Chris Kyle’s names on two slips of paper for a tie-breaking name drawing at St. Charles City Hall in St. Charles, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The drawing was done between Otto and Kyle to decide who won the city council position after an election resulted in a tie.
St. Charles assistant city clerk Emily Galantowicz, left, holds an opaque jar as city clerk Kim Hudson announces Hardin Middle School teacher Chris Kyle as the Ward 1 council member at St. Charles City Hall in St. Charles, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. A tie-breaker name drawing was done between incumbent Bill Otto and Kyle to decide who wins the Ward 1 council member position after an election resulted in a tie.
St. Charles Ward 1 council member incumbent Bill Otto walks into a side room at St. Charles City Hall after losing to Hardin Middle School teacher Chris Kyle in a tie-breaking name drawing for his city council position in St. Charles, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The drawing was done between Otto and Kyle to decide who won after an election resulted in a tie for the position.
