Four candidates ran for three four-year terms. Councilor Virginia Cole, with 1,094 votes, received the most votes in unofficial results released Tuesday night. Mayor Brian Irizarry and former Councilor Philip Foltz were also elected, with 1,020 and 955 votes, respectively. Newcomer Brendan Leddy finished fourth with 936 votes. 

“I’m very happy to be re-elected and I’m looking forward to another four years,” Irizarry said. “The possibility exists there will be a new mayor based on who’s elected, and we’ll see what that looks like. However that goes will be fine.”

Cole and Irizarry will be serving their second terms after being elected in 2020 after voter dissatisfaction with the council’s decision to enter into negotiations with Veridea over development of the site of Lakeshore Drive parking deck, which was later demolished in 2023. Veridea later withdrew from negotiations. 

This will also be the second term for Foltz, who was elected in 2016 before losing in his bid for re-election. He will replace former Mayor Pro Tem Joan Suits, who stepped down from the council earlier this year. The council opted not to fill the position with an interim member. 

Foltz

Irizarry congratulated Foltz on his win. 

“I look forward to working with him,” he said. 

Irizarry said over the next term, his hope is for the council will “continue to be good custodians for the people” and make sure the council is being responsive to residents’ needs.

“I’m just looking forward to continuing the balanced growth and supporting the economic growth and being sure that we hold the city manager accountable as a body, as a city council,” he said. “That’s our main job, is to make sure the city manager is doing a good job.”

The council will hold an organizational meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, where it will swear in two members and select a mayor and mayor pro tem for two-year terms.

Irizarry