In the commission contests, Fairchild garnered nearly 30% of the vote; Beckham won 26%; and Davis and Wick each got 22%.
On Tuesday night, Turner-Sloss told a cheering crowd at an election night watch party, “It’s time for the residents in this community ... to start having true representation on the commission. That’s what this is about.”
“We made history,” she said. “This is what people’s power looks like.”
In a statement, Mayor Mims on Tuesday said, “The people of Dayton have spoken, and I respect their choice. It has been one of my greatest honors to serve as your mayor. Though I am disappointed with this outcome, I remain committed to fighting to keep moving Dayton forward.”
Turner-Sloss, 43, is a logistics management specialist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, who used to work for the city. Turner-Sloss, who is just the third Black woman to serve on the city commission, won her seat four years ago.
Mims, 78, had never lost an election before Tuesday. Mims is a retired educator, union leader, school board member and coach who was elected mayor in 2021 after serving two terms on the city commission.
Turner-Sloss, Fairchild and Davis campaigned together, while Mims, Beckham and Wick also ran as a team. Turner-Sloss and Fairchild hoped Davis would prevail because they said they wanted to try to shift the balance of power at City Hall.
The commission has five members, and Turner-Sloss and Fairchild occasionally have ended up on the losing side of 3-2 votes, with Mayor Mims and Commissioners Chris Shaw and Matt Joseph voting the same way.
Beckham was endorsed by Shaw and Joseph, and he was a strong supporter of Mayor Mims and used to be his senior aide.
Turner-Sloss and Fairchild have said many residents are unhappy with City Hall, and they claim that the city has not been responsive to community concerns and they want to get rid of “status quo” politics.
Fairchild, 59, who is manager of chaplain services at Dayton Children’s hospital, said he’s proud that he and Turner-Sloss were able to prevail even though their opponents far outspent them on the campaign trail.
“We set out to host house parties, knock doors and listen to citizens and to understand their hopes and dreams and frustrations and we heard them, and it helped us craft a vision for Dayton that works for everyone,” said Fairchild, who has served on the city commission since 2018. “This is a testament to people power over money power.”
Beckham, 28, said he will bring a fresh perspective and new energy to the elected body.
“Voters are ready for a new generation of leadership at City Hall,” he said in a statement. “I’m ready to get to work to fight for a city where our neighborhoods are safe and thriving, where our local economy is energized and growing, and where our young people can see and achieve their full potential.”
Wick is a member of the Dayton Board of Education who also owns Coco’s Bistro, a Dayton restaurant.
Davis, 35, is a small business owner and an attorney who has handled civil rights cases.
Credit: David Sherman
Credit: David Sherman
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