Political newcomer Rebekah Gewirtz knocked off 22-year incumbent Jack Connolly for the Ward 6 Board of Aldermen seat Tuesday evening.
Gewirtz - the vice-chair of the Ward 6 Democratic City Committee and the co-founder and former chair of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville - defeated Connolly 1,111 votes to 955.
Ward 6 touches the southeastern part of the Tufts campus and includes Davis Square. All results are unofficial and will be finalized after a ten day certification process.
"I think it's time for a change," Somerville resident Rand Wilson said of why he voted for Gewirtz. "She showed a lot of passion and I think the biggest issue that we have is development and we need someone to stand up to the developers."
Connolly's last opposed election was in 1997, and he is largely credited with developing the Davis Square area.
"He worked hard to bring Davis Square and Ward 6 to what it is today," former Somerville Mayor Gene Brune, who served from 1980-1989, said as he picketed for Connolly during Tuesday's voting.
"I did a lot of good things," Brune said. "But Jack has done a lot of great things."
Former Board of Aldermen member Grace Abruzzio agreed. "Jack was very decent, very honest, hardworking, and knew all the issues," she said. "He's an outstanding family man."
Gewirtz also had longtime supporters, though she has lived in Ward 6 for only four years. "I've known Rebekah for a long time," resident Christine Barbar said. "She has great integrity, a thoughtful stance on issues, and I support her on these issues."
Wilson, Brune, Abruzzio and Barbar were at the Methodist Church on Chapel Street and College Avenue - one of three polling stations for Ward 6. Connolly beat Gewirtz at that polling station, 264 to 231.
Before the election, Connolly relied on his experience to hold onto his seat, while Gewirtz emphasized the need for affordable housing, subway extension to Somerville and public school funding.
In neighboring Wards 3, 4 and 5, however, the incumbents were reelected.
Thomas Taylor defeated Lawrence Paolella 1,002 to 751 in Ward 3. Walter Pero defeated Christopher Zambuto 701 to 235 in Ward 4. Sean O'Donovan defeated John Sullivan 1,302 to 792 in Ward 5.
The election for Ward 7 - the other ward that touches the Tufts campus - was unopposed. Robert Trane held onto his seat.
The four alderman-at-large seats were also up for grabs. All four incumbents - Bruce Desmond, Denise Provost, Dennis Sullivan and William White - ran successfully for reelection. They defeated Stephen Glines, Kimberly Foster Hirsch and Tufts alumnus Marty Martinez (LA '01).
In the races for the School Committee seats, Paul Bockelman defeated Jim Thomas 1,149 to 703 in Ward 6 and Mary Jo Rossetti defeated Herby Duverne 897 to 689 in Ward 7.
The Ward 5 School Committee seat went to Mark Niedergang, who was assisted by members of the Tufts Democrats. He defeated Megan Foster 1,103 to 1,049.
Mayor Joseph Curtatone returned to office in an unopposed referendum. He received 7,840 votes, and there were 513 write-in votes and 2,582 blank ballots for mayor.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was also reelected - 63,937 to 30,424 over Maura Hennigan.
Brian Loeb contributed to this article.
