This page shares information about our city election process and recent history. If you are interested in City Hall politics as I am, then I think you will appreciate this compilation of information.
The Mayor and City Council are two year terms that end with the May regular city election. City Council places that are odd numbered (places 1, 3, and 5) are on the even year ballot while the Mayor and even Council Places (2 and 4) are on the odd year ballot. City Council Places numbered 1 through 5 are of equal position and power. Place numbers are utilized only for tracking of terms and elections. The city is not sectioned into council precincts or districts so it does not matter where you or the council members live in New Fairview city limits. They represent all citizens equally. One council member is chosen by the council to be the Mayor Pro Tem (officiates the council meetings when the Mayor is absent).
The Mayor and Council members are all volunteers who freely contribute time and energy into a virtually thankless job. No matter what they do or say there is always someone who is unhappy. So please thank the Mayor, City Council, and the Planning and Zoning Commission members every chance you can. They deserve much more respect and support than they usually get.
New Fairview has a history of council members unexpectedly resigning. The stress of important decisions, time demands, and public office legal responsibilities of this “volunteer” job takes its toll on even the best of us. There is no shame in resignation. There is always another civic minded citizen willing to serve the community as best they can.
The May 2020 city general election was postponed to November 2020 because of COVID-19 virus restrictions. Normally the three odd number places would be alone on this even year ballot. But because of past resignations all five places were up for grabs on the same Election Day (A resigned council place is filled temporarily by the council. Time permitting the temp place must be placed on the ballot of the next city regular election and be identified as a “Special Election” for unexpired term). So places 2 and 4 in November 2020 were in the Special Election category. The peoples choice of the 2020 elections were
- Julie Burger
- Patrick Gunter*
- Steve Misner
- Walter Clements*
- Connie Stewart [Nolan Schoonmaker appointed after Connie resigned.]
Election May 2021, Mayor and City Council Members.
Mayor- Nolan Schoonmaker elected (defeated Harvey Burger Jr. and Lisa Reid.
- Julie Burger
- Vacant (Patrick Gunter was running unopposed on the ballot but resigned prior to Election Day (Mickey Malone appointed and then Scott Johnson appointed)
- Steve Misner
- Cindy Poe elected by defeating incumbent Walter Clements (Cindy resigned in November 2021 and Steven King was appointed)
- John Taylor elected unopposed. Appointed Mayor Pro Tem
In February 2022 Mayor Nolan Schoonmaker resigned. The Council appointed Mayor Pro Tem John Taylor to “Mayor” for the remainder of term to May 2023. (The filing window for the May 2022 election had already closed). The Council did not appoint anyone to fill the Place 5 vacancy. Julie Burger was appointed Mayor Pro Tem.
The 2022 city election had a general election for Places 1, 3, and 5. There was a Special Election for Places 2 and 4 for the unexpired terms.
- Julie Burger did not seek re-election. Her husband Harvey Burger Jr ran unopposed for Place 1.
- John Fissette ran unopposed in the Special Election for the one year unexpired term of Place 2.
- Incumbent Steve Misner ran unopposed for Place 3, but resigned from the Council two weeks before the election because he moved from New Fairview. Place 3 will be vacant through the election and the new Council will appoint a citizen to fill the vacancy until the next city regular election in May 2023.
- Appointed incumbent Steven King ran unopposed in the Special Election for the unexpired one year term of Place 4.
- Jimmy Royston and John Judge were the only contested candidates on the ballot. City Council Place 5 was won by Jimmy Royston.
Our City Council Members effective May 2022.
- Harvey Burger Jr.
- John Fissette
- Walter Clements (appointed by the City Council to serve one year, May 2023)
- Steven King (Mayor Pro Tem)
- Jimmy Royston
Mayor is John Taylor
In November Falcon Ridge resident Jimmy Royston resigned from Place 5 prior to the Special Election for the question of dis-annexation of the Falcon Ridge residential development. The question passed and Falcon Ridge was dis-annexed. Falcon Ridge resident, Place 2 Councilman John Fissette, was removed from office due to non residence status. Richard Greene was appointed to Place 5 until May 2023. Pete kozlowski was appointed to Place 2 for remainder of term (May 2023).
In May 2023 only Place 1 was not on the ballot. All Places and Mayor were unopposed except for Place 3. Sarah Adams won over Walter Clements.
Our May 2023 Council Members are.
- Harvey Burger
- Pete Kozlowski
- Shara Adams
- Steven King (Mayor Pro Tem)
- Richard Greene
Mayor is John Taylor
The next scheduled city election is May 4, 2024 for Places 1, 3, and 5. Richard Green is not seeking reelection. Alisa Scheps has filed as a candidate for Place 5 and the incumbents have filed for reelection of 1 and 3. With no opposition candidates the May election has been cancelled. So in May 2024 the Council will consist of:
- Place 1 Harvey Burger
- Place 2 Pete Kozlowski
- Place 3 Sarah Adams
- Place 4 Steven King
- Place 5 Alisa Scheps