NEWTON FALLS — Village voters have named new members to council’s 1st and 2nd wards and also recalled a councilwoman in the 3rd ward.

In Tuesday’s general election, Patricia Benetis was selected for the 1st ward seat and Brian Axiotis was selected to the 2nd ward seat.

Unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections had Benetis receiving 73% of the votes to Michael Kren receiving 27% in the 1st ward race.

Current 1st Ward Councilman Gideon “Bud” Fetterolf was not seeking re-election. He was named to fill the term of Michael Serotko, who stepped down in 2022.

Benetis said her goals are to bring back the police department, make sure money is spent cautiously and not frivolously, bring stability to council and the village, and more transparency with the public.

She said her first and most difficult objective will be to bring back the Newton Falls city police. Benetis said this was not a will of the people but the will of certain council members. She said she feels there were ways to find the money to support the police department.

Unofficial results from the board of elections had Axiotis receiving 57% to Condie Bright receiving 43% in the 2nd ward race. Current 2nd Ward Councilman John Baryak will not be returning as he has met his term limit serving eight years.

Axiotis said his goals are being against repealing the tax credit for people who work outside Newton Falls but live in the village, explore what it would take to get the police department back, and focus on economic development to increase tax revenue and attract new business.

Axiotis, who moved from the township to the village in 2007, said he actively has been involved in the community, attending meetings when time allows and stepping up to voice his opinion on issues.

He said he also has volunteered and served on the planning and zoning commission and was on it for the past few years. He resigned from that position to run for council.

Third Ward Councilwoman Tesa Spletzer was recalled by the voters in the election as unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Election showed 80% voting for her ouster.

Residents last spring provided enough signatures from residents of the 3rd Ward to have village council, as required by its charter, ask the Trumbull County Board of Elections to schedule a recall election for Spletzer.

Officials said based on the charter, when a person is recalled by the voters and the results of the election are certified by the Trumbull County Board of Elections, that person is officially done serving on council.

Village council will then have to name someone to fill the remainder of the term, officials said.