BELFAST — Newcomers Jon Cheston and Bonnie Becker won big in Tuesday’s City Council election, as did incumbent Michael Lewis.

Cheston defeated Lisbeth Norrback to fill an unfinished term by polling a citywide tally of 616-470. He will replace Ward 1 incumbent Mearl Benner who resigned a third of the way through his three-year term.

Becker defeated Ward 3 incumbent Kevin Page by a vote of 564-494. Ward 4 incumbent Lewis, who was unopposed in his quest for re-election to a second three-year term, topped the ticket with 869 votes.

Becker, a former airline executive who moved to Belfast six years ago, pulled out the surprise of the night against Page, a native son seeking his third term. It was Becker’s first try for public office.

“I’m really excited and very happy,” she said Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to working with the council and working for the people of Belfast. I thank them very much for their support.”

Cheston also carried the newcomer’s banner into the election and he credited that lack of baggage as a key to his victory. Cheston moved to the city two years ago.

“The fact that I have no ax to grind I’m hoping is part of the reason I did so well,” Cheston said Wednesday. “I think the people of Belfast wanted to get on and put some of the old battles of the past behind them. There is a ray of optimism here, the idea that Belfast is on the move is not just a slogan. My aim is to take advantage of my newness by trying to bring people together.”

Council elections in Belfast have lost some of their past fervor since a change to the city’s charter enacted two years ago established staggered terms. Before that all five seats and the office of mayor came up for election every two years. Voters now select two councilors at each annual election.

Tuesday’s election managed to attract a moderate turnout. City Clerk Teresa Crosby said 1,221 of the city’s 5,054 registered voters decided to exercise their civic duty.

“Considering that we no longer elect the whole council at once it was a pretty good turnout,” Crosby said. “They really came out of the woodwork in the morning, then it tapered off during the day, and really picked up again last night. I guess it was not that bad.”

Cheston carried four of the five wards by margins ranging from 12 to 80 votes, with Norrback prevailing in Ward 2 by a count of 111-93. Becker came out on top in four wards, with Page carrying only Ward 5.

In the race for four seats on the SAD 34 board of directors, incumbent C. Douglas Leavell was re-elected to a three-year term. Joining him on the board for a full term will be John Marshal. David Loxtercamp and Rebecca Miller outpolled Erin Costello for two-year seats on the board. Leavell and Marshall ran unopposed.

The winners of Tuesday’s council election will be sworn to office at 10 a.m. Monday, June 17. They will join incumbent Ward 2 representative John Krakar, Ward 5 incumbent Walter Ash and Mayor Page Worth on the new council. The seats of Ash and Worth will be up for election next year.