Updated as of Nov. 5 at 12:07 a.m. to include comment from Kennett.
Newcomer Beth Kennett has won her bid for election in the Burlington mayoral race becoming the first female mayor of Burlington. She earned 4,237 votes, compared to Ronnie Wall’s 3,640.
Former Burlington Mayor Ian Baltutis was one of two candidates elected to city council, earning 4,099 votes. Former chief of police in Burlington Jeffrey Smythe was also elected with 3,687 votes. Incumbent Harold Owen received the least amount of votes among the four candidates.
Community engagement was one of the main areas Kennett focused her campaign on. Part of this will be addressing the impacts of federal decisions and influence on Burlington.
“I don't think we can stick our head in the sand and pretend like nothing's gonna happen,” Kennett said in an interview to Elon News Network at the Alamance County Democratic Party watch party on Nov. 4. “We're gonna have to figure out ways to really work together. And I don't think that's impossible. I mean, I think we have resources in our community that can come together and do that work, and if that's something I can do to help make it happen.”
Trista Panagakos and Charlotte Pfabe contributed to the reporting of this story.