Meanwhile, challenger Stephanie Webb had 20.9% of the vote and incumbent Jerry Browning 18.9% among six candidates for three board of education seats. The third seat may face a recount as incumbent Wendy Landon’s had 16.92%, slightly ahead of challenger Susan Hieber’s 16.75%, results show.
In a five-way race for three city council seats, incumbent Tana Stanton has 22.3%, followed by Clinton Allen at 21.7% and challenger Sylvia Chess at 20.5%, results show.
Kirkpatrick said safety and security within the city could be improved by ensuring police and fire departments have adequate staff, training and equipment to perform their duties.
Relationships between Fairborn residents and the city could be enhanced by bringing back monthly citizens forums, he said, and by working more closely with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Wright State University, and Fairborn schools, the city can boost STEM, STEAM and STEMM opportunities for local students.
Kirkpatrick, who is retired, worked as executive director of the Fairborn Area Chamber of Commerce from May 2022 to May 2023.
He will succeed Paul Keller.
Knepp, the deputy mayor, said the city’s plans for economic development must be put into motion, adding that public and private partnerships — like that between Fairborn and Wright-Patterson — have become increasingly important “to mitigate market vulnerability.”
Ensuring a safe, swift and proper cleanup of the Renergy biodigester is crucial to guarantee the safety and availability of clean air and water for residents, he said. Enforcement of city codes will ensure renters have affordable, safe and healthy homes, and Knepp said new home development is also needed.
School board
Webb works as an aide at Baker Middle School for several years. She said her experience of working in the building gave her a valuable understanding of day-to-day issues.
Webb’s priorities include district finances and hiring top central office administrators. Aside from working at Baker, Webb said four generations of her family have attended or graduated from Fairborn schools.
Browning has been on the school board for eight years, the past two as president. He said he wants another term to see the completion of the four new buildings that the voters have approved.
Aside from new building construction, Browning said his priorities are academic improvements after COVID setbacks and as a result of setbacks and improving students’ social skills and support mental health that affects those skills.
Hieber said as a Fairborn Park Hills High School graduate and a career educator, she wants to serve her community.
She said her top priorities include continuing access to quality education for all students, using school funds efficiently and helping develop curriculum development through her experience as a teacher
Landon said she wants to use her time and personal experience to help benefit the students, district and community.
She said she wants to continue to improve education, student behavior/discipline, and school safety/security. Landon said the board and the administration have been working to adopt new practices to help keep students and staff safe, as well as implementing new procedures to address the issues with behavior.
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