Brookfield Trustee Shannon Devitz stood at the polls all day to encourage voters to support her.
Shannon Devitz, who was appointed a Brookfield trustee in January, has retained the seat for a four-year-term, according to unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
Devitz beat Tim Gladis by a vote of 1,281-1,008.
“I just can’t wait to get back to work,” said Devitz, who was appointed by a Trumbull County judge after long-time Trustee Ron Haun resigned. “This has been hanging over my head, I think, since I got appointed. I’ve never felt legit, personally. But, now that the people have spoken, I’m good. I’m good to go. I’m gonna continue doing things that we have in the works and work with my fellow trustees and just get some things done.”
Gladis expressed no regrets.
“We ran a good campaign and I’m very satisfied with that,” he said. “When the voters speak, they speak. That’s just what you have to accept. I’m OK with that. Whatever the voters want is what they should have, and that’s the way the system works.”
Gladis, the former Brookfield police chief, said he enjoyed meeting people and talking about the issues that were important to them, and reconnecting with people.
“I was really humbled and gratified by the support I got,” he said. “A lot of the people I haven’t seen in years came out and supported me.”
Gladis said he hopes the trustees consider some of the issues he campaigned on.
“I’d really like the meetings to be livestreamed so that more people can see what’s going on, and I’d like to see the budget be put out publicly so people can look at it and understand where the money is going,” Gladis said. “I think that would go a long way toward enhancing the trust that people have in their government because, right now, it’s kind of a low ebb nationwide. I think we can do a lot of really easy and cheap things to mitigate some of that right here in our town.”
Devitz said she believes she comes at issues from a different angle – that of a mom of an elementary school student. She said she wants to “inject some Shannon into it,” which she defined as “My idea of what a community is and what I want our children to grow up with.”
“Community events are gonna be big for me,” Devitz said. “Getting people involved, I just want everybody to come together. It’s a big goal.”
The first community event that will have her stamp on it is Jingle Mingle, a Christmastime activity for kids, at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 in Brookfield Center, which will include hot refreshments, cookies and a visit from Mrs. Claus, who will tell stories and lead a sing along. Brookfield Branch Library also is helping to organize the event.
Soon, a car show will be announced for the summer at Brookfield Local Schools, Devitz said.
“I’m gonna be the same person I have been since I’ve moved here,” she said. “Just a little bit of energy, passion. I’m excited.”
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The Brookfield Local School District’s proposed permanent improvement levy was defeated 1,654-997.
In other races, Fiscal Officer Dena McMullin was unopposed, and school board members Sarah Kurpe, Melissa Sydlowski and Derek Mihalcin also were unopposed.
