The Fairfield Community School District Board of Directors will welcome five new members later this month, and the Fairfield City Council will welcome two new members in January.

Those were just a few of the results from Tuesday’s municipal and school board elections, which featured some tightly-contested races in Fairfield.

Seven candidates were competing for four spots on the Fairfield school board to serve four-year terms. According to the unofficial results from the Jefferson County Auditor, the top four vote-getters were Christie Kessel with 1,621 (17.21%), David Eastburn with 1,580 (16.77%), Mark Thornton with 1,579 (16.76%) and Meghan Dowd Robbins with 1,405 (14.91%). Not far behind them were Nate Weaton with 1,323 (14.04%), incumbent Tim Bower with 1,068 (11.34%) and Theresa Tuvera with 574 (6.09%). There were also 271 write-in votes.

Kessel, the top vote-getter, remarked after her victory that she was “very excited for the opportunity ahead and look forward to working hard for our district.”

Eastburn said he believes that the new board will be able to forge a team to give “teachers, administrators, staff and students the very best opportunity to be successful.”

Dowd Robbins said she feels privileged to be selected from a strong slate of candidates, and appreciates the support she received in the campaign. She also acknowledges the challenges and hard work on the horizon.

“I’m looking forward to work with everyone in the community toward better schools for our kids,” she said.

Thornton could not be reached for a comment by press time.

Joining those four newly elected board members will be Deborah Williamson, who was unopposed on the ballot but faced a write-in campaign from Lisa Greenig. Williamson received 1,512 votes (64.67%), while the number of write-in votes totaled 826. Williamson was elected to fill a vacancy left by Kelly Scott when he stepped down from the board in July.

Williamson will serve the remaining two years on Scott’s term before that seat comes up for election again in 2025. After Scott stepped down, the board appointed Frank Broz in August to serve on the board until the November election.

“I’m very excited to get to work with the new members,” Williamson said. “I have every confidence that we will make significant improvements in the district.”

The five new school board members will begin their duties when they are sworn in at the district’s Nov. 20 board meeting.

Fairfield Mayor Connie Boyer was elected to a third term, defeating challenger Ed Noyes with 1,720 votes (87.71%) to his 226.

“I’m humbled and inspired, and look forward to progress on good projects coming up,” Boyer said Tuesday night. “I sincerely appreciate the community support. I listened carefully to the candidates and their concerns, and believe we can create good team work to improve our community. Thank you to all the candidates who put themselves out there and shared ideas.”

Elizabeth Estey is a member of the Fairfield City Council currently representing Ward 4 (downtown Fairfield), but after she moved within the city, Estey had to vacate her seat as Ward 4 representative. Instead, Estey sought election as an at-large candidate, attempting to fill the seat being vacated by Katy Anderson.

Estey won the race for the at-large seat with 1,059 votes (60.76%), defeating FHS Principal Aiddy Phomvisay, who received 674 votes (38.67%).

“I feel so humbled!” Estey said upon learning of her victory. “I really felt like Fairfield would choose who would best represent in the at-large portion. I am so excited and thankful to be able to continue my work on the council, but Aiddy is a wonderful asset to our community, and I look forward to working with him and the school.”

Matthew Rowe and Curtis Oliver both threw their hat in the ring to fill Estey’s spot as Ward 4 representative. Rowe came out on top with 188 votes (60.06%) to Oliver’s 118 (37.7%).

“The good people of Ward 4 have honored me with their trust, and I look forward to justifying their faith,” Rowe said.

Terri Kness ran unopposed to represent Ward 1 (east side) and received 398 (99.25%) votes. She, along with Rowe, will be the two new additions to the council. Kness will be taking over for the retiring Martha Rasmussen.

The other two city council races were also uncontested. Tom Twohill won another term representing Ward 5 (south side) with 337 votes (98.25%), and Judy Ham won another term representing Ward 3 (west side) with 166 votes (93.79%).

Kness, Rowe, Estey and Boyer will be sworn in during the first Fairfield City Council meeting in January.