Rachel Randall and Kelly Butler will join the Auburn City Council next month after winning their contested races for the Ward 1 and Ward 4 seats, respectively, on Tuesday.

Tim Cowan, in Ward 2, held on to his seat in the only other contested race for the City Council.

Randall, a certified surgical technologist, defeated Noah Yarnevich 753-333 in a matchup of political newcomers. The Ward 1 seat is held by Rick Whiting, who did not seek reelection.

After results came in, Randall posted a statement on social media thanking voters in Ward 1.

“To every single Ward 1 voter who took the time to cast a ballot, to everyone who opened their doors, shared their thoughts, waved from their porch, offered encouragement, volunteered, or simply believed in me — I’m endlessly grateful,” she said.

Randall, 48, told the Sun Journal recently that her main focus would be on “responsible growth that balances housing, workforce, and environmental protection.”

In Ward 2, Cowan fought off a challenge from Thomas Page by a 1,035-470 tally. It will be his second term. Cowan said the top two issues in Auburn are housing and supporting businesses.

Mathieu Duvall, a former Planning Board member, was unopposed for the Ward 3 seat, which is held by Stephen Milks, who chose not to run for reelection.

In Ward 4, Butler unseated Ben Weisner by a vote of 637-363.

“Sending out my appreciation and thanks to our Ward 4 neighbors who exercised their right to vote (both absentee and yesterday at the polls),” Butler posted Wednesday. “Great to see everyone yesterday! Looking forward to our connection as we continue Auburn’s progress forward.”

Leroy Walker was unopposed for his eighth term as the Ward 5 councilor, and Belinda Gerry and Adam Platz were also unopposed for two councilor at-large seats.

The overall turnout in Auburn on Tuesday was 43%, with 6,704 of 15,724 registered voters taking part.

FRIENDLY COMPETITION

On Tuesday morning, Bob Hayes and his fellow election volunteers were having a friendly competition while assisting rushes of voters at Auburn Hall.

Hayes, a former city councilor and warden for the polling location that serves voters in Wards 3 and 4, checked the turnout numbers as of 10 a.m. It read 164 voters so far for roughly half the voters, based on last name. He walked across the hall to another room that serves the other half of the alphabet, where the tally read 182. 

Hayes’ room had lost its early morning lead. Time to go outside and rally some voters with names in the first half of the alphabet, he joked. 

The camaraderie between election volunteers comes from a lot of years of working together on local elections. Hayes’ wife, Bonnie, was part of the volunteer crew in the rival room.

Hayes said from talking with voters, it was mostly the referendum questions driving turnout. The city has all of its City Council and School Committee seats on the ballot as well, but many are uncontested. He said when the polls opened at 7 a.m. there were more than a dozen people waiting to get in.

Charles Henry, of Auburn, said he normally votes absentee, but came to Auburn Hall to vote Tuesday because it is close by. He said absentee voting is helpful for people like himself who rely on Social Security and often find it difficult to travel.

“It’s convenient for me,” he said. “It’s hard to get around some days.”

As Henry was exiting, a new group of voters were lining up outside Hayes’ room. Perhaps the lead was about to change hands again, he said.